Malaysian investor seeks justice from BD PM

by Business Correspondent
September 14, 2011

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1796/malaysian-investor-seeks-justice-from-bd-pm

Malaysian investor Dato Sri Joseph Chong, who is the managing director of Westmont Power [Bangladesh] Limited sent a lengthy additional clarification to the news item published titled 'Malaysian Project Grabbed by Bangladeshi PMs Brother in Law', which was published in Weekly Blitz. The gas-fired barge-mounted Westmont Power Plant with a maximum capability of 130 MW was officially launched in 1999 at Baghabari [approximately 180 km from Dhaka city]. Malaysian ministry of foreign affairs has pictorial news on the Westmont power plant in Bangladesh, proving it to be a project owned by Malaysian investors.

In the clarification dated September 14, 2011, Dato Sri Joseph Chong said, "Bangladesh Army took over our company during the 1/11, 2007, imposition of State of Emergency. They forcefully planted Brig. Gen. lmrul Kayes [on LPR] and Maj. Gen Akber Akhter [Retired] in Westmont Power [Bangladesh] Limited and virtually took control of our company."

It may be mentioned here that, a blood-less coup took place in Bangladesh under the command of General Moeen U Ahmed, who forced the President to declare State of Emergency thus postponing the scheduled general election and letting General Moeen appoint a group of people to run a "Caretaker" government, which in reality was military-backed interim regime.

Regarding lodging of the extortion case against Sheikh Hasina by Tajul Islam Faruque, chairman of Westmont Power [Bangladesh], Dato Sri Joseph Chong said: "The then chairman of Westmont, Kazi Tajul lslam Faruque was picked up by the 1/11 army group [group of greedy army officers led by General Moeen U Ahmed] and was forced to file an extortion case against Sheikh Hasina, then President of Awami League and present Prime Minister of Bangladesh."

He said, "During the whole 1/11 period Westmont was in the clutches of 1/11 army group and they ran the company as they wished. We kept quiet finding no option under the forced circumstances."

Corrupt army officers continued to draw the pending bills of the company in cash cheques and misappropriated millions of dollars during the two-year rein of terror of the military backed interim regime led by General Moeen U Ahmed. The Westmond Power's managing director said: "1/11 Group of Bangladesh Army took over the control of Westmont Power and from the day they enforced State of Emergency in Bangladesh and started drawing all the earnings of Westmont from Bangladesh Power Development Board through CASH CHEQUES and all the drawn amount used to go in their pockets [army officers]. No money was spent for the maintenance of the power plant."

Dato Sri Joseph Chong claims that, financial crisis in Westmont Power [Bangladesh] Limited was a result of limitless looting by the army officers during the entire period of military backed interim regime in Bangladesh.

Though democracy was restored in Bangladesh during December 2008 general election in Bangladesh, the foreign invested company Westmont Power [Bangladesh] Limited was never freed from the illegal occupation. Rather, it was re-grabbed by the relatives of the Prime Minister. Describing this, Dato Sri Joseph Chong wrote: "After the democratically elected government of Awami League led by Hon. Sheikh Hasina took power, the Hon. Defence Advisor to the Hon. Prime Minister, Mr. Tarique Ahmed Siddique and his brother Dr. Shafiq Ahmed Siddique, the Husband of Sheikh Rehana, the only sister of the present Hon. Prime Minister, took over the reins of Westmont and forcefully planted Mr. Haroon Ar-Rashid as chairman of Westmont and two navy officers [retired] as advisers.

"Mr. Haroon Ar-Rashid, initially only an appointed chairman, without having any so called shares, started running Westmont drawing a salary of Taka ten lakhs [1 million] per month. Besides total amount of the monthly bills received from Bangladesh Power Development Board were [BPDB] being taken out through cash cheques on instructions of Dr. Shafiq Ahmed Siddique. Not a single taka was spent for maintenance of our power plant, which resulted in its systematic breakdown."

The Malaysian investor has submitted another complaint with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on September 12, 2011 [another complaint was submitted with the PMO on August 17, 2011]. In the letter titled "Forceful occupation of Westmont Power [Bangladesh] Limited by Dr. Shafiq Ahmed Siddique, the husband of Sheikh Rehana, the only sister of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh", once again narrates as to how the foreign invested company was forcefully grabbed.

Allegations of the Malaysian investor is serious enough, especially when the matter is getting published in media and the affected investor continues to circulate documents in support of his claim to various international news outlets as well as foreign missions in Bangladesh. Bangladesh government definitely needs to initiate immediate investigation into the matter and resolve the issue for the sake of national interest. This instance of Westmont Power [Bangladesh] Limited will leave severe negative impact for Bangladesh in inviting any foreign investment in future. If the complaint of the Malaysian investor is true, those army officers involved in illegally occupying the company as well all others should be immediately brought into book. Any negligence in this case will only create another instance of crime and corruption by politically backed influential figures in Bangladesh.

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