Oil-gas committee alleges wrong information, exaggeration in PM's speech on Rampal

There is 'much wrong information and exaggeration' in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's brief on the Rampal power plant, Professor Anu Muhammad has said.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 27 August 2016, 05:38 PM
Updated : 27 August 2016, 05:38 PM

The member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, which has been agitating against the plant, has also said it is 'evident' that the prime minister has been 'influenced' by the publicity of the Rampal power plant company.

The committee came up with its reaction to the prime minister's briefing on Saturday evening.

It also alleged that former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who has thrown her support behind the Rampal plant protesters, had been creating confusion over the movement.

Professor Anu Muhammad said, "People had hoped that the prime minister would consider their opinion and independent experts' views on the plant.

"But it's unfortunate that her speech was influenced by the company's advertisement publicity. That's why her speech is full of wrong information and exaggeration," he said.

The oil-gas committee leader also claimed the panel had already refuted Hasina's arguments in an open letter to her on July 28.

The leftist parties have been with oil-gas committee in the protests against the Rampal project since it was initiated.  The BNP has of late begun backing the protests.

Prime Minister Hasina said the BNP, which had been instigating the anti-Rampal protests 'secretly', had now come out in public with its stand.

Anu Muhammad alleged that the BNP chief had been creating confusion over the anti-Rampal movement through her news conference, while Hasina was 'trying to stigmatise' the movement by linking it with Khaleda Zia.

He ended his remarks by expressing the hope that the government would scrap the project.

He also said the media would be briefed on the project through a news conference on Aug 29.