Writ filed in HC seeking cancellation of electricity deals with India's Adani Group
A writ petition was filed in the High Court today (13 November), seeking cancellation of all electricity deals with India's Adani Group.
It was submitted by Barrister M Qayyum to the relevant branch of the High Court, with a hearing scheduled before a bench led by Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury.
Earlier on 6 November, a legal notice was sent to government officials seeking the review and cancellation of all electricity deals with Adani Group.
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Qayyum had said if the process to review and cancel the contracts isn't started in the next three days, then a writ petition would be filed with the High Court.
The lawyer told reporters today, "We challenged the validity of the Power Purchase Agreement [PPA] between the Bangladesh Power Development Board [BPDB] and Adani Group as unequal, unfair and against public interest.
"If the Adani Group does not comply in amending the terms of the contract on the basis of equality and fairness, I have sought directives to cancel it," he added.
The notice sent earlier also called for a review committee consisting of energy and legal experts to give a detailed report.
A 25-year power purchase agreement was signed with Adani in 2017. At that time, no imported coal-based power plant was started in the country.
Electricity is supplied to Bangladesh from Adani's 1,600 MW power plant in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand.
The Adani power costs Bangladesh about Tk12 ($0.1008) per unit, an official of the Bangladesh Power Development Board said, citing the latest audit report for financial year 2023-24.
That is 27% higher than the rate of India's other private producers and as much as 63% more than Indian state-owned plants.
Meanwhile, after slashing the power supply to Bangladesh by half over unpaid dues, Adani Power earlier this month set a deadline of 7 November to switch off the flow of electricity if there is no clarity on settlement of the outstanding amount.
Currently, Bangladesh owes Adani almost $850 million, said the report published today.
Later in the day, Adani Group in a clarification said it has not demanded full payment in seven days.
