BNP would reevaluate the Rampal thermal power plant, if it came to power, a senior party leader said on Saturday. “A power plant at Rampal not only endangers the Sundarbans, but is also harmful to the people of this country. The devastation of the Sundarbans will cause slow death to us,” Dr Abdul Moin Khan said at a meeting at Jatiya Press Club here. The meeting organised by Save the Sundarbans discussed the need for closing the Rampal plant for protecting the largest mangrove forest in the world.
Speaking as the chief guest, Moin alleged that the government did not disclose the Rampal agreement to deceive the people. “Toxic coal will be purchased from India to be used at Rampal. The power generated by this will be detrimental to our country’s ecology. Moreover, the people will have to buy that power at double price,” he said.
Professor Anu Muhammad, member secretary of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, said they would organise a long march from Dhaka to Rampal, if the power plant was not closed by September 24.
“Both Bangladesh and India have taken a hasty initiative to destroy the Sundarbans, by agreeing to build the thermal power plant at the ecologically sensitive area,” he said.
“National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) of India and Power Development Board (PDB) of Bangladesh had signed the agreement within a week’s time without giving thought to the protection of the Sundarbans,” he added.
“The government has acquired 1,834 acres of land in Rampal’s Sapmari-Katakhali mouja, which is only about 10 km away from the Sundarbans. But on paper, the government showed that the distance was 14 km,” Anu said.
He said, “The government has violated five conventions by deciciding to construct the power plant, near the mangrove forest.”
Bangladesh and India jointly took the initiative to build a thermal power plant, based on imported coal from India, with a capacity of 1,320 megawatt at Rampal, triggering widespread protests from environmental activists in Bangladesh.
Save the Sundarbans president, Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam, presided over the programme.
Among others, Professor Mohammad Sadrul Amin, advocate Syeda Rezwana Hasan, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, Dr Abdul Matin, and chairman of Bagerhat Development Commission Society, barrister Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain, also spoke on the occasion.
-With The Independent input
