Terminate the Heist, Fuel the Ghost Plants

Imagine a ship taking on water while the crew is forced to pay a premium to a distant fleet that is actively drilling holes in the hull. This is the reality of the Bangladesh power sector. The NRC report, submitted on January 20, 2026, has delivered a sovereign ultimatum: we must stop paying for the silence of "ghost plants" and move to terminate the corrupt agreements that have mortgaged our future.

1. Adani Godda (1,600 MW)

• The Monthly Ransom: $35.2 Million (Tk 420 Crore) in capacity charges.
• The Damage: We pay a 39.7% premium over market rates, covering Adani's Indian taxes and a coal logistics "tax" for 700km of unnecessary rail transport.
• The Verdict: TERMINATE. The NRC has uncovered direct evidence of bribery involving 7 to 8 specific officials. The mandate is to move immediately to the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) to annul the contract on the grounds of "prima facie" corruption and fraud.

2. Reliance-JERA Meghnaghat (718 MW)

• The Monthly Ransom: $35.7 Million (Tk 428 Crore) for a plant that is effectively CLOSED.
• The Scrap Scandal: The plant utilized second-hand machinery from a failed project in India, but Bangladesh was billed for new equipment.
• The Verdict: CANCEL OR DRASTICALLY REDUCE. The NRC recommends a "Cliff-Edge" reduction in capacity charges to near zero until the company proves the asset is not just "recycled scrap" and gas supply can actually be utilized.

3. Summit Meghnaghat II (583 MW)

• The Annual Ransom: $87.8 Million (Tk 1,050 Crore) while sitting IDLE.
• The Efficiency Trap: Claimed 63% efficiency but sits dark because gas was withheld. Running on diesel costs the taxpayer 4.2 times more than gas.
• The Verdict: RENEGOTIATE. Cut capacity payments from the current inflated $8.00/kW-month down to $2.02/kW-month. The report demands gas delivery be made a National Priority to finally use this asset.

4. S. Alam / SS Power (1,320 MW)

• The Annual Ransom: $380 Million (Tk 4,500 Crore) in estimated capacity payments.
• The Scam: Awarded without a tender, using a fake coal benchmark of $120/tonne to set a high price for the entire grid.
• The Verdict: RESTRUCTURE COAL FORMULAS. Align fuel pass-through costs with global market reality immediately. If the company refuses, the NRC recommends Termination for "compromised project architecture."

5. Rupsha 800 MW (The Stranded Giant)

• The Status: FULLY BUILT / CLOSED.
• The Failure: A modern asset sitting in the dark because the previous regime failed to finish the gas pipeline infrastructure.
• The Verdict: ACCELERATE INFRASTRUCTURE. The NRC demands that finishing the Rupsha gas pipeline be elevated to a Tier-1 National Project. It is cheaper to finish a pipe than to continue paying Adani for coal power.

A Call to Action for the New Government

The National Review Committee’s report is not just an audit; it is a Directive for Sovereignty. The new government must now prove its commitment to the people by executing these three non-negotiable actions:

• Trigger the Singapore Protocol: Use the $5.8 Billion in arrears as tactical leverage. Do not clear these dues until Adani is brought to the Singapore International Arbitration Centre to answer for the evidence of graft.
• Enforce the "No Electricity, No Pay" Rule: Immediately revise contracts with IPPs to eliminate capacity charges for idle plants. If a plant cannot run because of fuel issues or "recycled machinery," the state should not pay a single Taka.
• The Gas First Mandate: Redirect every cubic meter of domestic gas to high-efficiency hubs like Meghnaghat and Rupsha. It is a national embarrassment to import coal power at Tk 17.84/unit while our own efficient gas units -- capable of producing power at Tk 5.00/unit -- stand in the dark.

The evidence is in. The infrastructure is there. The people are waiting. It is time for the new government to terminate the heist and reclaim our energy future.

Kawsar “KC” Chowdhury is an entrepreneur, commentator, and Co-Chair of the Global Bangladeshi Alliance. He works closely with the Bangladesh Caucus in the U.S. Congress, helping shape diaspora-driven policy, trade, and education initiatives.