Rampal wont affect Sundarbans: PM
Hasina smells a rat behind Khaleda stance
BSS
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday reiterated her governments firm stand for coal-based power plant at Rampal, located 14 kilometers from the outer boundary of the Sundarbans, saying the power plant would not cause any harm to the world heritage site, home of Royal Bengal Tigers and rich biodiversity, reports BSS. At a press conference at her Gana Bhaban residence in the capital yesterday, the Prime Minister ruled out the claim of a certain quarter that the power plant would destroy the mangrove forests. The Rampal power plant is located about 14 kilometers away from the outer boundary of the Sundarbans and 65 kilometers away from the world heritage site. International rule permits coal-based power plant beyond 10 kilometers area of a deep forest, she said.
Recalling the announcement of UNESCO declaring the Sundarbans as a world heritage site in 1997, the Prime Minister said the recognition was earned during the time of Awami League government due to its effective initiative. Blasting BNP chairperson for joining the propaganda against the power plant, the Prime Minister said, Position of BNP chairperson is like that of showing more sympathy to a child by aunty than ones mother. Sheikh Hasina said the proposed Bangladesh-India Friendship Thermal Power Plant at Rampal is one of those coal-based plants the government has decided to install in different parts of the country to meet the growing electricity demand and reach the electricity to people at a logical price.
But, a vested section against development has been spreading negative, baseless, fictitious and misleading information among people for the last few days and trying to make them fearful of the project, she said. Saying that BNP chairpersons joining with the propaganda on August 24 last seemed to have her deep conspiracy, the Prime Minister said asking otherwise why she (Khaleda) has come up in public with her negative attitude after a long time of beginning of the construction work of the power plant?
Khaleda Zia was giving instigation from inside. With the press conference on August 24 last she also joined that propaganda, Sheikh Hasina said, observing that there might be a deep conspiracy behind Khaledas public appearance with the quarter opposing the power plant.
The Prime Minister said all the information and data furnished by BNP leader about the power plant are false, fabricated and misguiding. She has come up with the false information to misguide the people, she said. BNP has failed to achieve ill-political gain through killing people by petrol bombs, patronizing militancy as well as carrying out Holy Artisan and Sholokia incident, Sheikh Hasina said adding now BNP chairperson is thinking to get new issue.
They are instigating the protesters to push the government into troubled situation. But the people are not foolish and they understand ill-motive of BNP, she said. We will resist any unstable situation with iron hands, if anyone want to create Rampal power plant as an issue, she warned.
I must do that whatever will be better and for welfare of the country as well as its people, she said. Sheikh Hasina urged the countrymen to keep trust on her. I am daughter of Bangabandhu. I did not do anything earlier and in future, which will harmful for the people of the country, she added.
Terming the coal as the most reliable resource of future energy, the Prime Minister said in near future it would be impossible to continue supply of natural gas to the countrys gas-based power plants. Developed countries like USA, France, Germany, China, Japan and neighboring India meet about 40 to 98 percent of their electricity demand with coal-based power. But, coal-based power in Bangladesh is a little bit more than one percent, she said.
The press conference of the Prime Minister was held against the backdrop of a constant propaganda and agitation by a group of people to press home their demand to abandon construction of the Rampal Power Plant and finally Khaleda Zias support to the campaigners.
In the press conference the Prime Minister came up with necessary information, data and study report saying I would be the first person to protest against the power plant if it would have any little impact on Sundarbans.
The Director General of power cell Mohammed Hossain gave a presentation on different aspects of the project before the speech of the Prime Minister.
Hundred years ago the size of Sundarbans was bigger than present. The forest constantly lost its mass over the years because of over exploitation. For the first time our government has taken massive measures for its protection, she said.
The Prime Minister said her government has taken steps for alternate employment of the bawalis of Sundarbans to stop cutting of sundari trees. New plantation drive has been taken while restriction has been imposed on tree felling, she said.
Recalling the incident of killing 14 electricity-hungry people in police firing in Chapainawabganj in 2006, the Prime Minister said power generation was 4,300 MW when Awami League handed over power in 2001. But it declined to 3,200 MW during BNPs 2001-2006 rule.
Sheikh Hasina said the country would need 24,000 MW power in 2021 and 60,000 MW by 2041. In view of this, she said, the present government has prepared a roadmap with many long and short term projects including quick rental power plants.
The group of people who are opposing the Rampal power plant also opposed the government initiative for quick rental power plant to meet up immediate demand of electricity in 2009, she said. The prime minister also said the country has got rid of another curse through the killing of Gulshan caf attack mastermind Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury. She made the remarks while addressing a press conference on Rampal Coal-based Power Plant and some misconceptions arranged at her official residence Gana Bhaban.
Three militants, including Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, a mastermind of the Gulshan caf attack, were killed during a joint forces raid on a house in Narayanganj Sadar upazila early yesterday. The Prime Minister thanked the intelligence and police forces for their success in hunting down the militants. Wed been searching for the mastermind for a long time our intelligence finally found him. The main culprit behind the Holey Artisan attack has been killed, she said. Noting that public awareness has already been created against militancy and terrorism, she underscored the need of continuing this awareness. The awareness is very much important. It would be possible to root out militancy and terrorism from the country if all work unitedly, she said. The Prime Minister also said through the successful operation, Bangladesh has showed the world that it can do whatever it promises.
