Green activists concerned

Green activists in the country have expressed their concern over the foreign ministry’s claim that the UNESCO has withdrawn its objection over Rampal power project by what they said shifting its scientific stance.

They questioned the ‘shift in the UNESCO stance’ and announced a countrywide protest rally for Tuesday demanding the cancellation of the project in the Sundarbans.

Prof Anu Muhammad, member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, termed the change in UNESCO stance as a ‘surrender of scientific ways to lobbyists appointed by vested quarters for unknown reasons.

“If the UNESCO shifts its stance today on the Sundarbans, it would mean that it has surrendered its scientific stance to the lobbying of vested quarters for some reasons,” Muhammad said in his Facebook status yesterday in his reaction to the statement of the foreign ministry claiming that the UNESCO has withdrew its objection on the Rampal

power project. The vocal campaigner against the Rampal project also mentioned that the UNESCO, after its investigation, had gave an explanation as to how the Rampal project would destroy the Sundarbans.

The organisation had also said that there was no alternative to relocating the power project from the Sundarbans to save it, Muhammad added.  

Anu Muhammad also announced a countrywide protest rally on July 11 demanding the cancellation of the power project and protesting massive corruption in gas and power sector.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan Md Abdul Matin termed the foreign ministry release as “simplified” and said that the real position of the UNESCO would be known once they receive copies of the meeting proceedings of the UNESCO committee.  

He said even if the World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO withdraw its objection, it has imposed a number of conditions, including carrying out strategic environmental assessment before advancing with any industrial development in the Sundarbans area.

Matin, who is also the member-secretary of Sundarbans Rakhha Jatiya Committee, said the committee asked Bangladesh government to carry out a thorough environmental impact assessment at the Sundarbans.

“Let the government carry out the assessments before going ahead with the project,” he said.  

Earlier in the day, the external publicity wing of the foreign ministry issued a release without any signature of any official.

The release stated that the World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO has withdrawn its earlier objection to the construction of the Rampal power project at its current location.

The committee meeting held in Kraków, Poland, has also spared the Sundarbans from being relegated to the ‘List of World Heritage in Danger’.

Green activists concerned

Green activists in the country have expressed their concern over the foreign ministrys claim that the UNESCO has withdrawn its objection over Rampal power project by what they said shifting its scientific stance. They questioned the shift in the UNESCO stance and announced a countrywide protest rally for Tuesday demanding the cancellation of the project in the Sundarbans. Prof Anu Muhammad, member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, termed the change in UNESCO stance as a surrender of scientific ways to lobbyists appointed by vested quarters for unknown reasons. If the UNESCO shifts its stance today on the Sundarbans, it would mean that it has surrendered its scientific stance to the lobbying of vested quarters for some reasons, Muhammad said in his Facebook status yesterday in his reaction to the statement of the foreign ministry claiming that the UNESCO has withdrew its objection on the Rampal power project. The vocal campaigner against the Rampal project also mentioned that the UNESCO, after its investigation, had gave an explanation as to how the Rampal project would destroy the Sundarbans. The organisation had also said that there was no alternative to relocating the power project from the Sundarbans to save it, Muhammad added. Anu Muhammad also announced a countrywide protest rally on July 11 demanding the cancellation of the power project and protesting massive corruption in gas and power sector. General Secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan Md Abdul Matin termed the foreign ministry release as simplified and said that the real position of the UNESCO would be known once they receive copies of the meeting proceedings of the UNESCO committee. He said even if the World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO withdraw its objection, it has imposed a number of conditions, including carrying out strategic environmental assessment before advancing with any industrial development in the Sundarbans area. Matin, who is also the member-secretary of Sundarbans Rakhha Jatiya Committee, said the committee asked Bangladesh government to carry out a thorough environmental impact assessment at the Sundarbans. Let the government carry out the assessments before going ahead with the project, he said. Earlier in the day, the external publicity wing of the foreign ministry issued a release without any signature of any official. The release stated that the World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO has withdrawn its earlier objection to the construction of the Rampal power project at its current location. The committee meeting held in Krakw, Poland, has also spared the Sundarbans from being relegated to the List of World Heritage in Danger.