Daylong sit-in at Shaheed Minar against Rampal thermal project

Politicians, academics and professionals at a sit-in programme in Dhaka on Saturday called on the government to scrap its plan of setting up a coal-based Thermal Power Plant at Rampal as it would destroy the Sunderbans, the biggest mangrove forest in the world.

The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports is holding daylong sit-in at Central Shaheed Minar to press its demands of scrapping coal-based Rampal Thermal Power Plant at Rampal in Bagerhat and implement its seven-point charter of demands.

Dhaka University professor emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury called on the government to drop the power plant which would destroy Sunderbans, which would be an irreparable loss, for the country.

Communist Party of Bangladesh president Mujahidul Islam Selim warned that the ruling government would face a mass movement if they do not refrain from implementing the power plant.

The mass movement could oust the government from the power, Selim said.

Sheikh Muhammad Shaheedullah, the convener of the national committee said that we should save the Sunderbans, for better future of the country.

Anu Muhammad, the member secretary of the committee, said that most of the people of the country were opposing the proposed power plant as it would destroy the rare forest Sunderbans.

The national committee will announce tougher movement programmes to compel the government to refrain from implementing the project, Anu said.

The national committee is likely to announce programme of ‘Chalo Chalo Dhaka Chalo’ from November 24, if the government did not drop the power plant within November 23 and it would hold a grand rally in Dhaka on November 26, the leaders of the committee hinted New Age on Saturday noon.

The politicians, academics and professionals were continued speaking at Shaheed Minar and different cultural and drama groups were performing their programmes.

The programme started at 11:00am and would be concluded at 6:00pm.