Anu Muhammad, member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, on Thursday, said they would resist the government’s decision to set up the Rampal Thermal Power Plant at the site of the world’s largest mangrove forest.
“We’ll resist the construction of the plant. We’ll sacrifice blood, if necessary. If the government wants to set up the plant, it should do it over our body,” he added.
Anu Muhammad was addressing a huge gathering on the Arappur premises of Jhenidah. As many as 5,000 people from different districts, including Kustia, Bheramara, Meherpur, Magura, Rajbari and adjacent areas, gathered there to express their solidarity with the committee to save the Sundarbans.
A motorcade of 31 buses and 15 other vehicles reached Jhenaidah at 4:15 pm. Local people gave them a warm welcome.
“There are many alternatives to producing electricity, but no alternative to the Sundarbans. Everyone should protest against the government’s decision to set up the Rampal power plant. If the mangrove forest is destroyed, our very existence will be thwarted,” Anu Muhammad said.
“The long march bears the spirit of our Liberation War. Young people have taken part in it. They are the freedom fighters of a new era. This march is to save Bangladesh,” he added.
Sheikh Shahidullah, convener of the committee, said, “We need another war to save the Sundarbans.”
“This project is aimed at giving profits to India. We must resist such conspiracies. India had hatched conspiracies against us on previous occasions, but we were able to foil them,” he added.
-With The Independent input
