The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port yesterday voiced its concerns against the decision to allow India the use of the Chittagong and Mongla ports, saying it went against the country’s interest.
Regarding foreign access to the country’s two sea ports, the committee said the government had made the deal without making an adequate assessment. The move went against the interest of Bangladesh, it added.
At a meeting held at the committee’s office yesterday, the body also reiterated its worries about the Rampal Power Plant project, warning that the Sundarbans mangrove forest would be destroyed if the coal-fired power plant was set up near the forest.
The committee, which has been a strong advocate against the Rampal project since it was announced, said India has been supporting Bangladesh to set up the power plant with an aim to destroy the mangrove forest.
It also urged the government to stop the power plant project immediately for the sake of the forest and its ecology.
With the financial assistance of an Indian power company, the government is currently setting up a 1,320MW coal-fired power plant some 10km from the Sundarbans, which it had declared as an Ecologically Critical Area.
Environmental experts have also warned earlier that implementation of the proposed power plant project would destroy the ecosystem, biodiversity and wildlife of the world’s largest mangrove forest.
