Bangladesh to review Adani power deal: Report 

Bangladesh is set to review the deals with Indian businesses, including the power deal with Adani Group, according to a report by The Indian Express. 

More specifically, Bangladesh is keen to know the terms of the agreement and if the price being paid for power is justified, the report said, citing a senior functionary of the interim government who did not wish to be named.

"There will be scrutiny of Indian businesses, like the Adani business… what kind of contracts have been signed, what are the terms and conditions, one cannot have a foreign company not follow the law of the land,"said the official. 

"So those investigations will be done; it will be painted as targeting Indian businesses, no… they will be scrutinised for what they are doing here, how much is Bangladesh paying, is it justified, all these questions will come up," the functionary added.

Regarding the issue, Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan told The Business Standard that all power projects are under review. 

"A committee has been established to scrutinise every project in the power sector. The Adani deal is just one of the many projects being examined," he added.

An Adani Power spokesperson told Indian Express, "We have no information of the Bangladesh government reviewing our PPA. In the spirit of true partnership, we continue to supply power to them despite the massive outstanding owed to us. We are in constant engagement with the Bangladesh authorities and have requested them for early liquidation of our dues as it is making our operations unsustainable."

Bangladesh has been buying 1,600MW power from Adani's plant since 2023 under a deal signed in 2017. The Adani plant was totally dedicated to supplying power to Bangladesh until the fall of Hasina in August. Then within no time, the Indian government permitted Adani plant to sell power in the Indian market as well.

Indian media on 9 September reported that Adani Group had requested Bangladesh to expedite the clearance of $800 million that the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) owed for power supply.

Giving Hasina refuge is a problem

Elaborating on ties with India, the top functionary told Indian Express, "We want to have a stable relationship with India, a neutral relationship." 

He added, "But giving Sheikh Hasina refuge is a problem… First we saw that she was there for some time, and now she is being given space for doing activities against Bangladesh…," the functionary said, referring to Hasina's statements.

On the economic situation which chief adviser Yunus is also focusing on, the functionary said, "Hasina has left the administration rotten, finances are rotten, corruption is rampant…there are people in the level of peon who have amassed crores of Bangladeshi taka."

"We have to first start the engine, make it work, and then go ahead," the functionary said.