The National Committee to Protect Oil Gas Mineral Resources Power and Ports on Tuesday launched its five-day long march from the National Press Club towards the proposed Rampal Power Plant site in Bagerhat.
About 2,000 marchers gathered in front of the National Press Club at about 10 am and moved for Manikganj enroute to Rampal. The marchers reached the city’s Shaymoli area around 12:30 marching Matsya Bhaban and Shahbagh crossing, and they got into 30 buses, minibuses and microbuses and moved towards Jahangirnagar University.
“The long march reached Jahangirnagar University around 1:30 pm, ”National Committee leader Ruhin Hossain Prince told UNB over telephone. “We’ll soon move for Manikganj. After an overnight stay there, the long march will head towards Faridpur on Wednesday morning,” he added.
He said the marchers will reach Rampal on September 28 where it will end through holding a rally in protest against the coal-fired power project. Before reaching Rampal, the long march will stay in Jessore on September 26 and Khulna on 27.
Earlier, the committee announced the programme demanding cancellation of the project being jointly implemented by Bangladesh and India at a site near the world heritage Sundarbans.
Addressing a rally in front of the National Press Club before launching the long march today, the national committee leaders alleged that the government’s move to set up coal-fired power plant near the Sundarbans will harm the Sundarbans destroying its environment, ecosystem and biodiversity.
Committee convener Engr Mohammad Shahidullah, its member secretary Prof Anu Mohammad and Syed Abul Maksud, among others, spoke at the
rally. Urging the government to immediately cancel the project, the leaders said when the Indian government does not allow any power company to set up any coal-fired power plant within 25 km of any forest in their territories, the Bangladesh government is going to set up the thermal power plant within 14 km of the Sundarbans.
They said if the government does not stop implementation work on Rampal power plant, they would go for greater movement.
Leaders of different left-leaning parties, including Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) president Mujahidul Islam Selim, Socialist Party of Bangladesh general secretary Khalekuzzaman and Ganashanghati coordinator Junayed Saki were present at the rally to express their solidarity with the long march programme. – UNB
