The vested interest group, who previously influenced the prime minister to remove Iqbal Hasan Mahmud from the position of the state minister for power two months ago, almost had Talukder removed from the cabinet on Thursday.

This group had the prime minister almost convinced that the restructuring initiated by Talukder and his scrutiny of several power deals were seriously hindering 'development' in the sector. The group said Talukder is running the ministry like a 'martial law administrator' and that if he is not removed immediately, it will go against BNP in the next election.

The real reason behind this move is Talukder's stance to follow rules and regulations in the decision making process regarding the recent Meghnaghat-3 450 megawatt (mw) unsolicited power project, tendering process for Sirajganj 450 mw project, tender finalisation for Siddhirganj 240 mw power project and some other new schemes. In all these schemes, the vested interest lobbies are pushing for incompetent contractors in exchange for bribes, making the government swallow its own rules and regulations.

Talukder also made the vested interest lobby very unhappy as he took a position against incompetent Chinese company Harbin for its substandard work in Tongi 80 mw plant which tripped over 75 times in one year since the beginning of its operation, and for its bid manipulation in Fenchuganj 90 mw and Chandpur 150 mw power projects. Besides, he was also closely monitoring the Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh's (EGCB) move to award the 240 mw power project in Siddhirganj to Harbin by going against the project consultant's views.

Sources said a move to axe Talukder was finalised Wednesday and the vested interest group was all set to seek the prime minister's nod on the matter on Thursday. Talukder became aware of the move Thursday afternoon and went to the prime minister and had a one-to-one meeting later that day.

Sources said at the meeting he threatened to resign from the cabinet. Considering political pitfalls, the prime minister refrained from axing him and cautioned him instead, sources at the PMO said without elaboration.

Interestingly, earlier on Thursday morning, an unaware Talukder was speaking at a workshop on power sector financial restructuring where he said unbridled irregularities, misuse of funds and lack of accountability are some of the reasons why the power sector of the country is in a vulnerable state.

Although Talukder was not sacked, the incident deeply affected officials of all the stakeholders in the power sector. Everyone is viewing the move to remove the minister as a clear demonstration of power of the corrupt axis of officials and the alternative powerhouse over the government's decision making process.

"What excuse can the government have to justify removal of a minister within two months of appointment? If he has taken a position against corruption, why should the government oppose that? If he has done anything grossly wrong, everyone is supposed to be aware of that," said a competent source of the energy ministry.

Soon after assuming the post of state minister for power, Anwarul Kabir Talukder came into conflicts with the PMO and its so-called high-powered committee headed by the principal secretary to the prime minister, which routinely interferes with the activities of the power ministry.

Talukder's position is that the prime minister has entrusted him with the responsibility of the ministry and therefore the PMO or the secretarial committee should not interfere with his decision making process or leadership.

On the other hand the PMO and the secretarial committee argue that since the previous Awami League government's regime, the secretarial committee has been spearheading power sector decisions. "But this is not true. During the Awami League regime, the secretarial committee helped the power and energy ministry coordinate with other ministries and authorities in implementing decisions," noted a source.

Talukder recently met Political Secretary to the Prime Minister Harris Chowdhury and expressed his unhappiness over the interference saying that it is hindering progress and creating confusion. But the meeting did not produce any positive result.

The key players of the current high powered committee are Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Secretary to the Prime Minister Khandker Shahidul Islam. None of them enjoy the reputation of being efficient.

In the last four years, the alternative powerhouse had most of the efficient officers in various power establishments removed and replaced them with inappropriate or inefficient or corrupt officials. To do so, there were some instances of serious violation of rules and regulations. For instance, the present secretary of power was holding the rank of a deputy secretary prior to his unusual double promotion in a single day in January.