Sudden Departure of Indian Officials From Rampal Plant

The management of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project in Rampal, Bagerhat, has been plunged into a state of perplexity following the abrupt and unauthorised departure of nine high-ranking Indian officials. The group, all of whom were on deputation from India’s National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), reportedly fled the country in the early hours of Saturday without prior notification or formal leave approval.

A Disappearing Act at Dawn

The exodus was discovered during breakfast on Saturday morning when the officials failed to appear at the mess hall. Perplexed by their absence, the plant administration initiated an internal search, only to find their residential quarters vacated. According to Anwarul Azim, the Deputy General Manager (Public Relations) for the Rampal plant, the officials allegedly exited the facility individually in their respective vehicles before dawn, reportedly crossing the border via the Satkhira frontier.

Upon being contacted by the Project Director, Ramanath Pujari, the departing officials cited "security concerns" as the primary motivation for their flight. This justification has been met with scepticism by the Bangladeshi authorities, who maintain that the facility is one of the most heavily guarded installations in the country.

Profile of the Departing Officials

Contradicting Security Claims

The Rampal Power Plant operates under a rigorous four-tier security apparatus, comprising the Bangladesh Army, Police, Ansar, and private security personnel. Internal sources suggest that these officials had never previously voiced any anxieties regarding their safety or the integrity of the plant’s security protocols.

"The claim of a security risk is entirely unfounded," stated Anwarul Azim. "We have provided an airtight environment for all international staff. This sudden exit is not only unprofessional but remains shrouded in mystery." The departure of such a significant block of leadership—including the Chief Financial Officer and three General Managers—could potentially disrupt the administrative and financial equilibrium of the joint-venture project.

Investigations Underway

The matter has been escalated to the highest levels of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. An investigation is currently underway to determine if there were underlying diplomatic or internal factors that prompted such an unorthodox withdrawal. Authorities are also scrutinising how nine senior expatriates managed to coordinate a simultaneous exit and reach the border without detection by the plant’s extensive surveillance network.

As the project is a flagship collaboration between the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and NTPC India, this incident may require bilateral dialogue to ensure that the operational continuity of the 1,320 MW plant remains uncompromised.