Govt showing rigid stance over Rampal plant, says BNP leader

BNP senior leader Shamsuzzaman Dudu yesterday said the entire nation has got stunned over the government’s ‘rigid’ stance over Rampal power plant despite Unesco’s advice to relocate it to any other safer place, reports UNB.
“Unesco has recommended shifting the power plant project to a safer place as the Sundarbans will be badly affected if it is set up at Rampal…the entire nation has got astonished and shocked as the government is showing its rigid stance over it ignoring public interest and Sundarbans’ risk,” he said.
The BNP leader came up with the remarks at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office a day after State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid’s comment that the construction work on Rampal power plant will not be suspended. 
The junior minister, however, on Sunday said the government will respond to the Unesco’s letter about the Rampal power plant by a week. Bangladesh and India are jointly implementing the Rampal project to build a 1320MW coal-fired power plant at a site near the Sundarbans. 
Dudu, a BNP vice chairman, said Indian power company BHEL, which has been awarded a contract to set up the plant, did not provide Unesco with adequate information about the technology and equipment to be used to check environmental affect to the Sundarbans.
He, on behalf of BNP, called upon people irrespective of their party and opinion to get united against the government’s obstinate attitude towards setting up the Rampal power plant harming the Sundarbans.
The BNP leader also criticised the Prime Minister for her remarks that there is adequate scope for doing politics in Bangladesh now, saying there is no iota of truth in her comment. 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now in the USA, in an interview with the Voice of America said, “We’ve not stanched anybody’s right of expression…they (BNP) are holding meetings, taking out processions and all other activities. Undoubtedly, there’s adequate scope for doing politics in Bangladesh.”
Reacting to the Prime Minister’s remark, he said there is no normal political atmosphere in the country now as they cannot freely hold any meeting and rally. 
“We’re allowed to hold indoor meetings within a very limited time. But, there’s no scope for holding any outdoor meeting. Even, we get permission for indoor meeting 12 or 24 hours before the programme.”
Dudu also slammed the government for showing arrested Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Prof MA Mannan in a fresh case after he got bail in all the cases filed against him. 
“We strongly condemn and protest the government’s move,” he said.

Govt showing rigid stance over Rampal plant, says BNP leader

BNP senior leader Shamsuzzaman Dudu yesterday said the entire nation has got stunned over the governments rigid stance over Rampal power plant despite Unescos advice to relocate it to any other safer place, reports UNB. Unesco has recommended shifting the power plant project to a safer place as the Sundarbans will be badly affected if it is set up at Rampalthe entire nation has got astonished and shocked as the government is showing its rigid stance over it ignoring public interest and Sundarbans risk, he said. The BNP leader came up with the remarks at a press briefing at BNPs Nayapaltan central office a day after State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamids comment that the construction work on Rampal power plant will not be suspended. The junior minister, however, on Sunday said the government will respond to the Unescos letter about the Rampal power plant by a week. Bangladesh and India are jointly implementing the Rampal project to build a 1320MW coal-fired power plant at a site near the Sundarbans. Dudu, a BNP vice chairman, said Indian power company BHEL, which has been awarded a contract to set up the plant, did not provide Unesco with adequate information about the technology and equipment to be used to check environmental affect to the Sundarbans. He, on behalf of BNP, called upon people irrespective of their party and opinion to get united against the governments obstinate attitude towards setting up the Rampal power plant harming the Sundarbans. The BNP leader also criticised the Prime Minister for her remarks that there is adequate scope for doing politics in Bangladesh now, saying there is no iota of truth in her comment. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now in the USA, in an interview with the Voice of America said, Weve not stanched anybodys right of expressionthey (BNP) are holding meetings, taking out processions and all other activities. Undoubtedly, theres adequate scope for doing politics in Bangladesh. Reacting to the Prime Ministers remark, he said there is no normal political atmosphere in the country now as they cannot freely hold any meeting and rally. Were allowed to hold indoor meetings within a very limited time. But, theres no scope for holding any outdoor meeting. Even, we get permission for indoor meeting 12 or 24 hours before the programme. Dudu also slammed the government for showing arrested Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Prof MA Mannan in a fresh case after he got bail in all the cases filed against him. We strongly condemn and protest the governments move, he said.