‘Are countries without the Sundarbans not growing?’

“Are countries without the Sundarbans not growing?” Awami League lawmaker Md Mozammel Hossain asked the question on Wednesday denouncing protesters of the Rampal power plant. The lawmaker from Bagerhat 4 constituency said: “A group of people, who want to hinder the country’s development, have been opposing the Rampal coal-fired power plant project.” A number of environmentalists along with thousands of other protesters have been voicing their concerns over detrimental effects of the power plant on Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world. Speaking at a discussion on the 2017-18 fiscal year budget and revenue at the Bagerhat District Administration auditorium, Mozammel said the Rampal power plant was a must for the country’s development. About increasing revenue, Mozammel, also a former minister, stressed on honouring tax payers in the country to encourage more people to pay their taxes. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) organised the discussion with its chairman Nojibur Rahman in the chair. Bagerhat 3 lawmaker Talukder Abdul Khaleque and Bagerhat 2 lawmaker Mir Showkat Ali Badsha also participated in the discussion.