Clicky
National, Back Page

Corruption at RNPP

Probe report by June 30


Published : 23 Jun 2019 08:33 PM | Updated : 31 Aug 2020 07:30 PM

The probe body formed to investigate the alleged corruption at Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project (RNPP) in Pabna will submit its report on June 30.
“The probe body will submit report on June 30. Stern action would be taken against the officials, those who will be found guilty,” Housing and Public Works Minister SM Rezaul Karim at a function at Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday.

Earlier the government formed probe body to investigate the ‘abnormal’ high price paid for household articles to furnish apartments in multi-storey buildings under the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project in Pabna. The minister said as they want to probe too deeply into the matter, they have extended the time.
“After obtaining the probe report, we will go for the next course of action plan. We are now practicing to publish the probe report. And we hope that we will get the report by June 30,” he said

Apart from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project, SM Rezaul Karim said the government will also publish the probe report on FR Tower in public.
Earlier on March 28, at least 20 people were killed and around 100 others injured as a deadly fire tore through 22-storey FR Tower in the capital's Banani area.
“Nothing will remain hidden,” he said.

Earlier the parliamentary standing Committee on science and technology on Tuesday asked the concernment the ministry to take immediate necessary measures in order to stop repetition at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project in Pabna. Following media reports on the alleged corruption, the housing and public works ministry formed two separate investigation panels.

The purchase prices of various stuff to furnish the project’s apartments for the officials and employees were unusually higher than the market prices, the media reported. The country’s first nuclear power plant is being constructed at Rooppur in Pabna with more than $12 billion financial and technical assistance from Russia. One of the two reactors is expected to be commissioned in 2023.

Meanwhile, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Executive Engineer Masudul Alam has been withdrawn over allegations of unusual expenditure in purchasing furniture and other household items for the project Each pillow, the reports claimed, was bought for Tk 5,957, and its carrying cost from the shop to the building was at Tk 760.

The ministry has instructed a stop to payments to the contractors until the investigation findings are submitted. The purchase price of the household articles as reported in media that went viral in social media looked ‘abnormal’. The public works department purchased the household articles, including electric stove, electric kettle, room cleaners, televisions, refrigerators, pillows and washing machines, for furnishing 966 apartments constructed mainly for the Russian engineers and officials of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project.

Each of the pillows was reportedly purchased for Tk 5,957 and lifted at a cost of Tk 760. An electric stove reportedly cost Tk 7,747 and its lifting cost Tk 6,650. The purchase price of an electric kettle was reportedly Tk 5313 and its lifting cost was Tk 2,945. The public works department purchased a room cleaner for Tk 12,018 and lifted it at a cost of Tk 6,650. An electric iron cost Tk 4,154 and its lifting cost Tk 2,945. A television reportedly cost Tk 86,970 while its lifting cost Tk 7,698. A refrigerator reportedly cost Tk 94,250 and its lifting cost Tk 12,521.