Awami League former Publicity and Publication Affairs secretary Hasan Mahmud warned everyone about expressing too much concern for the Rampal power plant.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee to Forest and Environment Affairs president said this while speaking as a chief guest at a debate competition organised by Debate for Democracy at the capital’s FDC.
Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan A Chowdhury Kiran conducted the debate between Green University and Jahangirnagar University.
The debate was on whether the Rampal power plant would be harmful for the Sundarbans. JU, whose stance was that Rampal would not be harmful, won the competition.
“The government is going to use advanced technology through which the contamination will be reduced in a great extent. But it is not possible to reduce the pollution level to zero. The plant will not harm Sundarbans, so there is no need for excessive concern,” said Hasan.
He added that every development initiative has a negative impact on the environment, but development cannot be stopped because of it.
Responding to whether foreign observers need to carry out an environmental impact assessment, he said: “I am not in favor of bringing in foreign observers. This country is ours. Domestic observers are good enough.”
Monday, March 17, 2025
