Power Cell DG removed

Being a temporary unit of the power ministry, the Power Cell is run by officials on lien from various government bodies.

Sources said the present officials and staffs of the cell were all set to serve their posts up to 2009.

However, BD Rahmatullah was served with a letter yesterday evening asking him to return to the Rural Electrification Board (REB) where he was working before coming to the power cell.

Sources said the director general's contract was extended to current month back in June, as he was leading tenders for a couple of large power projects.

In addition, the Special Project Evaluation Committee (SPEC) of the government was scrutinising a proposal to extend the contracts of the current team till 2009.

Sources said the SPEC is set to okay the proposal next week.

Under pressure from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the power ministry last year removed the previous DG and elevated Rahmatullah to his place.

The past DG had angered the 'alternative powerhouse' of the government as he was following government rules and regulations in pursuing an unsolicited proposal on the Meghnaghat 3 power project.

The alternative powerhouse was asking the Power Cell to clear the project as it is.

However Rahmatullah also could not by-pass the rules and regulations of the government in dealing with the unsolicited proposal.

As a result, he too angered the alternative powerhouse, the sources added.