Malaysian project grabbed by
Bangladeshi PM's brother in law
by News Desk
August 30, 2011
When Bangladesh is facing severe electricity crisis for years, a power plant in private sector established by a Malaysian company named Westmont Group has allegedly been grabbed by the husband of the younger sister of Bangladeshi Prime Minister, causing suspension of production. This 90-megawatt unit of Baghabari power plant came into operation in 2004. Westmont Group, a multi-national independent power producer [IPP], established this new barge mounted unit as an extension of its previous 90 MW simple cycle plant. This had been the first agreement signed between the PDB and an IPP for setting up a new unit of power plant during the previous BNP led coalition government.
Dato Sri Joseph Chong, managing director of Westmont Power [Bangladesh] Limited submitted a written complaint on August 17, 2011 to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and sent copy of this letter to all major news agencies and newspapers in the world, as well as Country Representative, World Bank; Country Representative, UNDP; Country Representative, Asian Development Bank and all foreign missions in Bangladesh.
In the mentioned letter to Bangladeshi Prime Minister, titled "Forced occupation of Westmont Power [Bangladesh] limited", Dato Sri Joseph Chong wrote:
"Kindly note, that some people, who are close relatives of your kind self, under the direct patronization of Prof. Shafique Ahmed Siddique [House #1 , Road#127, Gulshan 1, Dhaka] the husband of Sheikh Rehana and brother of the Defence Advisor to Your Kindself, have forcefully taken over our company, Westmont Power [Bangladesh] Limited [WPBL]; including our office in Dhaka and the barge mounted power plant at Baghabari in phases by fabricating and falsifying documents. Their botched and forced takeover has resulted in the complete shutdown of the power plant at Baghabari.
"Prof. Shafique Ahmed Siddique, who believes in the LAW OF THE JUNGLE, is being assisted in this dirty act, by Mr. Hasan Mahmood Raja of United Group and Mr. Md. Haroon Ar-Rashid. All ownership documents they are showing to Ministry, BPDB, courts etc are false and fabricated.
"Hon. Prime Minister, in the present circumstances only your direct intervention can save the situation and bring a lawful and legal conclusion to the problem. We request your kind instruction to Bangladesh Power Development Board [BPDB] to stop all dealings with Mr. Hasan Mahmood Raja and Mr. Md. Haroon Ar-Rashid AND all payments to WPBL with immediate effect; Failing which Your Honorable kind self and Your Government will be responsible for all consequences thereof.
"Despite the totally false and fabricated nature of their claims - but as Prof Shafiq Ahmed Siddique is the husband of your only sister, Sheikh Rehana and brother of your Defence Advisor, therefore I think it will be fair to order an international arbitration [or a court action] in London, United Kingdom to verify their claims of ownership if any. Kindly also note that Your Government and BPDB is bound by international laws because of the sovereign guarantees furnished by Government of Bangladesh to WPBL, therefore it is pertinent that BPDB and your Government should stop dealing with the disputants until the matter is resolved."
This is for the first time, since Bangladesh Awami League formed government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, any foreign investor has submitted complaint with such serious allegation against a family member of the Prime Minister.
It may be mentioned here that, chairman of Westmont Power [Bangladesh] Limited, Kazi Tajul Islam Faruk lodged an extortion case on April 9, 2007 against Sheikh Hasina, during the military controlled interim government's rule. Later, immediately after Bangladesh Awami League came in power, Faruk was sacked from the board of directors of the company on January 5, 2009. It was later revealed that, former chief of Bangladesh Army, General Moeen U Ahmed used Kazi Faruk Ahmed in lodging a hurriedly false accusation against Sheikh Hasina. In exchange of lodging the false case, Kazi Tajul took lots of undue benefits from the military controlled regime during 2007-2008. When remaining directors as well the foreign investors of Westmont Group came to know about the wrongdoings of Kazi Tajul Islam, they unanimously decided to remove him from the board of directors of the company.
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