BNP will support the anti-Rampal power plant protests on Jan 26

The BNP has said that it will support the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port’s half-day shutdown on Jan 26 in protest against the proposed Rampal power plant near the Sundarbans.

“The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Power and Port has worked on the issue for a long time,” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. “They have called a half-day shutdown on Jan 26. On behalf of the country and its people, the BNP will do all it can to support them.”

On Jan 8, National Committee Member Secretary Prof Anu Muhammad had announced a shutdown from 6am to 2pm on Jan 26.

The 1320 MW coal-based power plant in Rampal Upazila is a joint India-Bangladesh project currently under construction.

The proximity of the project to the Sundarbans prompted protests from several leftist organizations from the beginning.

Environmentalists say the proposed plant would be a significant threat to the Sundarbans, which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The National Committee has been a  part of the protests from the beginning.

But the government, the prime minister in particular, has said repeatedly that the project would not harm the Sundarbans.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP’s headquarters in Naya Paltan on Sunday, Rizvi said: “The Rampal power plant project will poison our fresh air, all for the sake of profit and foreign looting. The Sundarbans are a World Heritage site and it is the duty of the people of this country to protect it.”

The BNP leader also raised the issue of the prime minister’s comments in Davos on Rampal.

“From what the prime minister said at Davos, it seems she will ignore the opinion of all national and international experts.”

“Her aim is to turn this country into hell. Everything she said at Davos was false.”

During the prime minister’s recent visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the issue of the Rampal plant was raised by former US Vice President and environmental advocate Al Gore.

The prime minister promised the project would be implemented without any adverse effect on the Sundarbans and invited Gore to come and see the project for himself and make up his mind.