A human chain was formed by the Fascism Opposing Students’ Platform on Sunday afternoon in front of the National Press Club, demanding the immediate arrest of Kazi Absar Uddin Ahmed, Managing Director of Northwest Power Generation Company. The protesters accused him of being involved in the corruption of the Rampal Power Plant project.
The speakers at the event criticized Absar Uddin for his role during the construction of the Rampal Power Plant, where, according to them, Indian companies used outdated equipment to build the facility. The plant, they claimed, has not been able to produce electricity effectively, yet it continues to receive full capacity payments, costing the country around 34 million taka every day. Over the course of the agreement, this amount will total a staggering 24,000 crore taka.
The speakers further alleged that Kazi Absar Uddin’s actions had not only harmed the environment near the Sundarbans but were also damaging the country’s economy. They also raised concerns about his ties to Indian interests, mentioning that he was given a red carpet welcome in India. They questioned how such a significant honor could be bestowed on a company’s managing director, rather than a government official.
The protesters also brought up a recent event, where Absar and his family were reportedly invited to a dinner at the residence of the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, just one month before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s departure. They demanded that Absar be arrested and interrogated to understand how much money he had received in exchange for advancing Indian interests.
D.K. Sulaiman, Secretary of the Fascism Opposing Students’ Platform, expressed deep concern about the ongoing corruption and national loss associated with the Rampal project. He emphasized that Absar Uddin had caused significant damage to Bangladesh by providing unilateral benefits to Indian companies, leading to the use of outdated machinery and ultimately making the project a financial burden for the country.
The protesters called for immediate action, demanding that Kazi Absar Uddin be arrested and tried for corruption, a high-level investigation commission be formed for the Rampal project, and the plant’s operations be temporarily suspended while a new plan is devised. They also urged a review of all projects that go against national interests, particularly those involving foreign companies.
Sulaiman announced plans for further protests, including human chains outside Absar’s office and in front of the Anti-Corruption Commission, to demand an investigation into his role in the corruption.
The rally was attended by the platform’s convenor Zakir Suman, joint convenor Wariful Islam Nasir, and other leaders. The protesters warned that if the government does not take swift action to arrest Absar Uddin and others involved in the Rampal project corruption, they will launch more intense movements with the support of the public.
