Green brigade slams pact for Rampal plant

Environmentalists yesterday reiterated their opposition to the proposed coal-based power plant in Rampal near the Sundarbans by asking the government to shelve the plan immediately.
They also termed the agreement signing between Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL) and Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) on Tuesday as “a black day for our country”.
The environmentalists were speaking at a press conference at the Press Club. Sultana Kamal, convener of the Committee to Protect Sundarbans, asked the government to cancel the contract for the benefit of the country.
Questioning the present government’s pro-liberation credentials, she alleged that if it was really concerned about the country’s welfare, then it would not have signed a contract for such a devastating project.
“What is the point of going ahead with the plan even after concerns are raised by different quarters, not only from the country but also from across the world?” she said. Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International, Bangladesh, said the Indian high commissioner had thanked Bangladesh after the contract signing. “Why was he thanking Bangladesh? Is the plant being implemented to satisfy India’s need? I believe time has come to raise this question,” he added.
He said the Sundarbans protects the people living in the coastal regions of Bangladesh and India. “Therefore, any plan that will affect the livelihood of those people should not be implemented,” he added.
Prof. MM Akash, who teaches of economics in Dhaka University, said Bangladesh will economically become the loser and not the gainer following the implementation of the Rampal power plant.
Sharif Jamil, a member of the Committee to Protect Sundarbans, said the world heritage site was facing danger on a regular basis because of some profit-driven individuals and corporations. Several commercial and industrial activities, including the construction of shipyards and cement factories, have already come up around the eco-sensitive mangrove forest, he observed.
At a time when the coastal regions of the country are already under threat because of climate change, the implementation of coal-based projects like the Rampal power plant would only add to the risks faced by the people, he added.

Green brigade slams pact for Rampal plant

Environmentalists yesterday reiterated their opposition to the proposed coal-based power plant in Rampal near the Sundarbans by asking the government to shelve the plan immediately. They also termed the agreement signing between Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL) and Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) on Tuesday as a black day for our country. The environmentalists were speaking at a press conference at the Press Club. Sultana Kamal, convener of the Committee to Protect Sundarbans, asked the government to cancel the contract for the benefit of the country. Questioning the present governments pro-liberation credentials, she alleged that if it was really concerned about the countrys welfare, then it would not have signed a contract for such a devastating project. What is the point of going ahead with the plan even after concerns are raised by different quarters, not only from the country but also from across the world? she said. Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International, Bangladesh, said the Indian high commissioner had thanked Bangladesh after the contract signing. Why was he thanking Bangladesh? Is the plant being implemented to satisfy Indias need? I believe time has come to raise this question, he added. He said the Sundarbans protects the people living in the coastal regions of Bangladesh and India. Therefore, any plan that will affect the livelihood of those people should not be implemented, he added. Prof. MM Akash, who teaches of economics in Dhaka University, said Bangladesh will economically become the loser and not the gainer following the implementation of the Rampal power plant. Sharif Jamil, a member of the Committee to Protect Sundarbans, said the world heritage site was facing danger on a regular basis because of some profit-driven individuals and corporations. Several commercial and industrial activities, including the construction of shipyards and cement factories, have already come up around the eco-sensitive mangrove forest, he observed. At a time when the coastal regions of the country are already under threat because of climate change, the implementation of coal-based projects like the Rampal power plant would only add to the risks faced by the people, he added.