National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, and other green groups have started long march towards Rampal of the Sundarbans demanding that the power projects be scrapped immediately.
The procession began from the premises of the National Press Club at 10am on Thursday.
Photo courtesy: Mohammad Rafique
During the march, the activists are set to hold rallies at Jahangirnagar University of Savar, Manikganj, Faridpur, Magura, Jhenidah, Jessore, Noapara, Daulatpur and Khulna to raise public awareness against the projects.
They will reach Rampal on Sunday.
The national committee earlier observed a long march from Dhaka to Rampal in September 2013, just a month before the prime minister inaugurated construction of the 1320MW power plant.
Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Ltd (BIFPCL), a joint venture of PDB and NTPC of India, is developing the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project at Rampal which will use imported coal.
The plant would adopt super critical technology. India's state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd or BHEL has won the deal to build the plant.
On the other hand, local firm Orion Group is building a 566MW power plant in Rampal area.
The national committee has long been opposing the coal plants saying that the projects would pose major threat on the biodiversity of the forest, water species and livelihood of the people who depend on the forest's resources.
In February, the National Committee to Protect Sundarbans demanded an environmental impact assessment for the Rampal plant by international independent experts under the supervision of the UN.
They dubbed the government's EIA a distorted one and demanded that construction work of the two power plants is suspended.
According to the EIA, the project area is about 14km north-eastward of the Nalian Range of the Sundarbans and 4km away from the Ecologically Critical Area boundary.
The project area has 95% arable land within a 10km radius and it will also affect fishing, cattle and birds and animals of the forest.
Prof Anu claimed that like the BNP, some Awami League leaders are also against the coal-based projects but they could not say this in public as it would go against the party's stance.
He said that the mass procession would create awareness among the people about the significance of the Sundarbans, one of the largest mangrove forests of the world.
He also mentioned about the concerns raised by the Unesco, the Ramsar and other local and international environment experts regarding the projects.
A Unesco delegation of experts is likely to visit Bangladesh this month to learn about Dhaka’s initiatives to tackle the environmental impacts of the Rampal coal-fired power plant.