BNP asks govt to scrap coal-fired power project near Sundarbans

The BNP has demanded of the government to scrap two coal-fired power plant projects at Bagerhat’s Rampal near the Sundarbans, a world heritage site.

Party spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon said at a press conference on Thursday that they expected the government to stop being stubborn “if they are really concerned about the interest of the state, environment and biodiversity.”

Ripon, also the party’s international affairs secretary, said they were not against coal-fired power plants and foreign investment in the sector.

“But that (power plants) should not be near the Sundarbans. There are so many places in the country where the plants can be built,” he said.

The press conference was arranged at the BNP headquarters at Dhaka’s Naya Paltan.

Ripon referred to the concerns environmentalists, citizen groups, political parties and UNESCO expressed over the government plan.

He said: “We came to know that a review of the world heritage list is beginning this June. A review process has started to determine if the Sundarbans will remain on the list.

“If the Sundarbans falls in the endangered category, this entity of our pride will be lost. It will be a source of shame and pain for us.”