Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DHAKA6109
2006-10-04 10:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
FORMER POWER MINISTER CLAIMS WHISTLEBLOWING LED TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0020 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHKA #6109 2771046 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 041046Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1917 INFO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7576 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8701 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1287 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1521 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9355 RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 006109
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2016
TAGS: ENRG PGOV KDEM KCRM BG
SUBJECT: FORMER POWER MINISTER CLAIMS WHISTLEBLOWING LED TO
OUSTER
Classified By: Political Counselor Dundas McCullough; Reason 1.4(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 006109
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2016
TAGS: ENRG PGOV KDEM KCRM BG
SUBJECT: FORMER POWER MINISTER CLAIMS WHISTLEBLOWING LED TO
OUSTER
Classified By: Political Counselor Dundas McCullough; Reason 1.4(d)
1. (U) The Prime Minister appointed Ukil Abdus Sattar as
Power Secretary on October 3. Sattar replaces Anarul Kabir
Talukder, who was forced to resign on September 29, just
three months after taking over as Power Secretary. Talukder
was forced out following attacks on power company offices and
facilities around Dhaka by angry mobs protesting rolling
blackouts (know locally as load shedding). Sattar is also
the State Minister for Land.
2. (C) Talukder told Embassy sources his departure had
little to do with public unrest over load shedding. The real
reason was his opposition to several energy deals with China
based Harbin Group that the government is trying to push
through before it leaves office at the end of October.
Talukder says he uncovered significant corruption involving
the State Minister for Energy and the Prime Minister's son,
Tarique Rahman. He asked an intermediary to convey his
allegations to the Prime Minister's Office. Unfortunately,
the PM's secretary, Khandaker Shahidul Islam, with whom the
intermediary spoke, turned out to be part of the group
backing Harbin. Islam apparently alerted Tarique Rahman to
Talukder's allegations. Talukdar claims Tarique Rahman then
instigated the mob attacks on the power offices to create a
pretense for the PM to sack Talukdar.
3. (U) Harbin is best known in Bangladesh for its
construction of the 80 MW Tongi power plant. The plant is
essentially useless, having triped more than 75 times since
it was commissioned in October 2005.
4. (U) Bangladesh has been chronically short of power
generating capacity, resulting in regular load shedding.
Despite an estimated 8% annual growth rate in demand, no
reliable new power generating capacity has been added to the
grid since the BNP-led ruling coalition came to power in
2001. The current shortfall is estimated at 1500 to 2000
megawatts, or nearly 40% of demand. The problem is now
acute, as nearly 20 existing plants are off-line due to
equipment faults or scheduled maintenance. Moreover,
seasonal demand increases during Ramadan, as shopping plazas
add lavish decorative lighting displays and stay open later
to attract seasonal shoppers.
BUTENIS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2016
TAGS: ENRG PGOV KDEM KCRM BG
SUBJECT: FORMER POWER MINISTER CLAIMS WHISTLEBLOWING LED TO
OUSTER
Classified By: Political Counselor Dundas McCullough; Reason 1.4(d)
1. (U) The Prime Minister appointed Ukil Abdus Sattar as
Power Secretary on October 3. Sattar replaces Anarul Kabir
Talukder, who was forced to resign on September 29, just
three months after taking over as Power Secretary. Talukder
was forced out following attacks on power company offices and
facilities around Dhaka by angry mobs protesting rolling
blackouts (know locally as load shedding). Sattar is also
the State Minister for Land.
2. (C) Talukder told Embassy sources his departure had
little to do with public unrest over load shedding. The real
reason was his opposition to several energy deals with China
based Harbin Group that the government is trying to push
through before it leaves office at the end of October.
Talukder says he uncovered significant corruption involving
the State Minister for Energy and the Prime Minister's son,
Tarique Rahman. He asked an intermediary to convey his
allegations to the Prime Minister's Office. Unfortunately,
the PM's secretary, Khandaker Shahidul Islam, with whom the
intermediary spoke, turned out to be part of the group
backing Harbin. Islam apparently alerted Tarique Rahman to
Talukder's allegations. Talukdar claims Tarique Rahman then
instigated the mob attacks on the power offices to create a
pretense for the PM to sack Talukdar.
3. (U) Harbin is best known in Bangladesh for its
construction of the 80 MW Tongi power plant. The plant is
essentially useless, having triped more than 75 times since
it was commissioned in October 2005.
4. (U) Bangladesh has been chronically short of power
generating capacity, resulting in regular load shedding.
Despite an estimated 8% annual growth rate in demand, no
reliable new power generating capacity has been added to the
grid since the BNP-led ruling coalition came to power in
2001. The current shortfall is estimated at 1500 to 2000
megawatts, or nearly 40% of demand. The problem is now
acute, as nearly 20 existing plants are off-line due to
equipment faults or scheduled maintenance. Moreover,
seasonal demand increases during Ramadan, as shopping plazas
add lavish decorative lighting displays and stay open later
to attract seasonal shoppers.
BUTENIS