PMO-led panel to start coal scam probe today

The Prime Minister Office (PMO)-led committee will start investigation into the disappearance of coal from Barapukuria Coal Mine today (Thursday). M Khalilur Rahman, Director General (Admin) of PMO, will lead the team that was formed last week as per directive of the Prime Minister, also the Minister of Energy, to "make a detailed investigation" into the coal scam. "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants detailed investigation into the disappearance of around 142,000 tonnes of coal from Barapukuria Coal Mine.

She sat twice with the officials concerned last week as she was not satisfied with the Petrobangla's report on the coal scam," a senior official said, adding that the high-powered committee was formed as per PM's directive. Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury will also visit the Barapukuria coal mine (he is not the member of the committee). He will be accompanied with Petrobangla Chairman, also the Chairman of Barapukuria Coal Mine.

"The authority of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company (BCMCL) will present a paper to the high-powered committee. They will also give all data related with coal production since the end of 2005 and present a sale chart to the committee at the mine," an official told the Daily Observer on Wednesday.

Earlier, Petrobangla had conducted an investigation into the coal scam and filed a case, accusing the managing director (MD) and 18 other former and current officials of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited (BCMCL). However, this high-powered committee will investigate the scam simultaneously with the Anti-Corruption Commission's investigation. However, the Consumers' Association of Bangladesh (CAB) will also investigate the issue in its own way.

Coal extraction has remained suspended since June 16 due to machinery transfer. The coal-fired Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant stopped generating power from that day due to shortage of fuel from the mine. Experts feels that a section of insiders at the BCMCL was behind the coal pilferage and they could not do so without any help from Petrobangla and Energy Division as they had assigned a huge number of people to monitor everything of the coal mine.

"They (officials of Petrobangla and Energy Division) sat on regular basis taking huge money in the name of board meetings over the last 13 years. It is clear that it was not a job of a singular person and that is why everyone should be accountable, especially Petrobangla," a senior official of the Energy Division said.

Commenting on the issue, State Minister Nasrul Hamid said Petrobangla had never made any inventory since the start of Barapukuria Coal Mine operation and supply of the coal to the nearby Barapukuria Power Plant in 2006. "It seems all officials at the Barapukuria Coal Mine are involved in such irregularities and corruption. Action will be taken against the persons involved in the wrongdoing," he said.

Meanwhile, the Energy division Secretary Abu Hena M Munim termed the disappearance of 142,000 tonnes of coal "information error." During a visit to Barapukuria Coal Mining area on Friday, Munim made this comment while talking to journalists. "It is a misappropriation which had been happening since around 2005. So everybody will bring under scanner," the State minister said. Power Division Secretary Dr Ahmed Kaikus informed the media that the consumers of Rangpur division are experiencing around 150-MW of load -shedding on an average a day. He said Barapukuria coal is not matching with the Indian coal. So, the committee concerned will examine the options of coal import.