A major citizens’ platform has rejected an invitation to visit the Rampal coal-fired power plant site hosted by the Power Ministry.
Convenor of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports Engineer Sheikh Muhammad Shahidullah said: “This invitation is to cover their weakness. We have already visited the Rampal site on several occasions. There is nothing to see again under their hospitality.”
He was addressing a press conference at Mukti Bhaban in the city yesterday.
The rejection came in reply to an invitation sent by State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid to the leaders of the National Committee to visit Rampal on November 19.
The letter turning down the offer was signed by Shahidullah and committee member secretary Professor Anu Mohammad.
The leaders of the citizens’ group made a counter-offer to the state minister, asking that the project be suspended while an open public debate to discuss the project is held.
The Power Ministry has sent similar invitations to other individuals and organisations that oppose the project on environmental grounds.
Anu Mohammad said the National Committee will hold a national convention on the Sundarbans on November 14 at the National Press Club and will announce an action programme to force the government to cancel the project.
The letter declining to attend was read out by Professor Anu Mohammad, who also responded to a Power Ministry advertisement published in different newspapers discrediting the National Committee’s campaign against the Rampal power plant.
