University teachers call on government not to award gas exploration job to foreign companies

A platform of university teachers have said letting foreign companies explore oil and gas in inland blocks will be ‘suicidal for the country’ and urged the government to drop the plan.

Under the banner of ‘Society of Conscious University Teachers’, they made the call at a meeting held at the Dhaka University on Sunday.

The teachers also urged the government to enhance the capabilities of Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Co Ltd (BAPEX) to reduce the dependence on foreign companies in oil and gas exploration.

Geology Department teacher Prof Badrul Imam said: “Exploration of oil and gas in inland blocks through foreign companies will be suicidal for the country. That’s why the government has to step back from the move.”

Reading out a prepared speech, he said: “More than half of the gas will go to foreign firms that will explore it. That’s why preferring foreign firms to BAPEX defies logic.”

“The working areas of BAPEX have to be expanded.”

The professor said foreign companies had already established their hold on Bangladesh’s gas sector.

“Drilling for gas through foreign companies is increasing since 2000. Local organisations account for 43 percent of the gas drilled and foreign companies the rest 53 percent,” he said.

“If things go on this way, absolute control of foreign companies will be established on Bangladesh’s gas fields in future,” he added.

Dhaka University economics teacher Prof MM Akash said: “Exploration of oil and gas by foreign companies is in no way logical. The government will back out from the move if it has an iota of patriotism.”

Prof Anu Muhammad of Jahangirnagar University said: “Foreign companies are being legitimised on the pretext that the country lacks local capital and ability.