The Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company Limited has sent a statement in reaction to the 抖阴精品 report published on March 29 titled 鈥楶ower plants exaggerate bills.鈥�
After discussing six 鈥榠naccuracies鈥� and 鈥榤isconceptions鈥�, the BIFPCL in a statement on April 6聽 said that the report was based on selective and misrepresented information rather than verifiable evidence.
The 抖阴精品 report was based on the Bangladesh Power Development Board鈥檚 two separate evaluations of the financial accounts submitted by the BIFPCL and the Bangladesh China Power Company Limited.
Before publishing the report, 抖阴精品 reached out to the relevant power companies to get their opinions on the BPDB鈥檚 evaluations.
The Bangladesh China Power Company Limited, owner of the Payra power plant, replied that their financial account was subject to verification and that there was no scope of making excessive bills.
But the BIFPCL never replied.
In the first point raised in the statement, the BIFPCL accused the 抖阴精品 report of failing to acknowledge that the BPDB鈥檚 financial assessments were part of a reconciliation process.
The report in fact quoted from the BPDB letter sent to the BIFPCL on the evaluation making it clear that the issues could be resolved.
The BIFPCL also found that the 抖阴精品 report inflated 鈥榖ills without any supporting evidence鈥� which, it said, was defamatory and an instance of irresponsible journalism.
The BPDB letter sent to the BIFPCL, however, showed that there was a difference of Tk 2,478 crore in the bills raised by the BIFPCL invoices and approved by the BPDB.
The BIFPCL statement raised an issue with the quote of a BPDB member about his view of what joint ventures theoretically mean.
The BPDB in its letter asked the BIFPCL to produce documents that the BPDB found was necessary to justify the company鈥檚 financial statement of 2023鈥�24. The BIFPCL said that its financial statements were prepared by reputed independent audit firms.
The BIFPCL questioned the report referring to the regime change, accusing it of bias and carrying political undertones. The BIFPCL called the report speculative and unfounded.
The BPDB officials said that this was the first time they were able to critically review invoices raised by the BIFPCL.
The BPDB evaluation came after a government report revealed that the 1,320MW Rampal power plant, owned by the BIFPCL, was allowed to operate without an effluent treatment plant during the last regime.
In another evaluation, the BPDB found that Indian nationals employed at the Rampal power plant earned substantially more than their peers thanks to huge bonuses and other benefits.