Govt ignoring own interest for India

Ignoring Bangladesh’s interests to protect India’s, the government is deceiving people with assurances that the Rampal power plant project in Bagerhat will do no harm to the Sundarbans, situated some 14 kilometres away, stated green activists yesterday.Addressing a press conference the National Committee to Protect the Sundarbans organised in the capital’s Dhaka Reporters Unity, they called upon the government to scrap the project, the foundation stone of which is scheduled to be laid next month.A long march organised by the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports over the demand started off from Dhaka on Tuesday and is scheduled to reach Rampal today.Eminent columnist Syed Abul Moksud said any contract going against the country’s interest should not be implemented.“If the project is implemented, the Sundarbans will lose its beauty and be renamed as ugly forest,” he said. Sundarbans literally translates as “beautiful forest”.Shushashoner Janney Nagarik Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said the government, adamant on implementing the project ignoring public demands, was acting like a monarchy.“If the government claims itself democratic, it will certainly take a decision based on everybody’s demand,” he said.Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers’ Association Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan said an acceptable environment impact assessment (EIA) report should be prepared under the supervision and with the engagement of unbiased foreign experts.Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul said the government was trying to hastily implement the project ahead of the next election to protect India’s interests.Reading out a keynote paper, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon General Secretary MA Matin said the EIA report was flawed and forecasted that the project’s implementation will lead to the destruction of the Sundar-bans within the next
20 years.