Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral  Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmood -File photo

SANGSAD BHABAN, April 19, 2026 (BSS) - Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral 
Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmood today informed the Jatiya Sangsad that the 
process has begun to bring back money allegedly looted and laundered abroad 
in the name of quick rental power projects during the tenure of the previous 
Awami League government.

He said the Ministry of Finance and Bangladesh Bank are working in 
coordination to repatriate the siphoned funds.

The minister made the remarks in a written reply to a question tabled by 
treasury bench member Md. Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas (Pabna-5).

In his reply, the minister stated that during the previous Awami League 
government, the "Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provision) Act, 
2010" was enacted. Under this law, power plants could be approved without any 
open tender or standard procurement process, allowing discretionary approvals 
of proposals.

He further noted that, under Section 5 of the Act, tariffs for power plants 
were determined through a negotiation committee. 

"This process often resulted in unjustified electricity prices and abnormally 
high capacity charges. Influential leaders of the Awami League and their 
relatives were allegedly involved among the owners of these power plants," he 
added.

Regarding government measures, Iqbal said that after assuming office, the 
previous interim government repealed the controversial law through an 
ordinance. The ordinance was passed in parliament as a bill on April 7, 
permanently ending the scope for arbitrary approval of power plants.

He added that coordinated efforts are ongoing by the Ministry of Finance and 
Bangladesh Bank to recover the laundered money while legal actions against 
those responsible are also in progress.