The Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) Limited (BIFPCL) has refuted claims made in a Dhaka Tribune article titled “Rampal power plant: How land acquisition pushed previous owners into poverty”.
In its official rebuttal, BIFPCL stated that land acquisition for the Rampal Power Plant was conducted in full compliance with legal provisions, accompanied by a comprehensive resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) plan.
The company emphasized that the plant employs state-of-the-art ultra-supercritical technology, ensuring higher efficiency and reduced emissions.
As part of its environmental commitments, 165,000 trees have been planted in the surrounding area, contributing to ecological balance.
Furthermore, ambient air and water quality monitoring is carried out by both the Department of Environment (DoE) and independent agencies, ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
BIFPCL also clarified that all effluents from the plant are treated in advanced facilities and meet or exceed DoE norms.
Dhaka Tribune’s clarification
Responding to BIFPCL’s rebuttal, the Dhaka Tribune correspondent highlighted findings from the final Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, submitted by CEGIS in January 2013, which confirmed that 1,834 acres of land had been acquired for the construction of the 1,320MW coal-fired power plant.
The correspondent reiterated that the Rampal Power Plant is classified as a “Red Category” project, signifying high environmental sensitivity.
Dhaka Tribune further underscored concerns surrounding forced displacement due to land acquisition, citing how such transitions often lead to disasters, migration, and livelihood changes, all of which are closely linked to poverty.
The acquired land—a mix of Khas and public property—had been traditionally used for agriculture and fisheries (shiram).
The transition from fertile land to industrial infrastructure has reportedly affected the livelihoods of at least 2,000 people who depended on the area for sustenance.