HC seeks report on abnormal costs of furnishing RNPP apartments

Publish: 9:19 PM, May 20, 2019 | Update: 9:19 PM, May 20, 2019

The High Court has ordered the submission of an investigation report by PWD on the abnormally high cost of furnishing apartments at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) project.

The bench of Justice Tariqul Hakim and Justice Md Suhrawardy came up with the order on Monday after hearing a writ petition filed by Barrister Sayedul Haque Suman over alleged misappropriation of funds in the project.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state.

During the hearing, the attorney general informed the court that the Ministry of Housing and Ministry of Housing and Public Works Department (PWD) have formed two probe committees to investigate the allegations, and are expected to submit the report within seven days.

Speaking to journalists after the hearing, Barrister Sayedul stated that the court would reconvene upon receiving the investigation report after the Eid holidays.

Earlier on Sunday, the Supreme Court lawyer had filed the writ petition with the High Court (HC), seeking judicial inquiry into the allegations of irregularities in purchasing furniture and other items for the RNPP apartments.

Barrister Sayedul said in the petition that excessive money had reportedly been spent on purchasing and transporting furniture and other items, adding that the salaries fixed for the employees and officials working on the project were also “unusual.”

According to a media report that went viral on social media, the purchasing prices of various household articles used to furnish the RNPP project apartments were abnormally higher than the market price.

The purchases were made to furnish 966 apartments constructed for the Russian engineers and officials working on the project.