Activists of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports hold a rally at Magura on Thursday. More than 1,200 protesters set out on the long march from the capital on Tuesday protesting the government’s decision of establishing a power plant in Rampal near the Sundarbans. Photo: Star
The long march ‘Save the Sundarbans’ reached Jhenidah Thursday evening on its way to Rampal in Bagerhat.
More than 1,000 protesters arranged a brief wayside meeting in the district town around 3:45pm, reported our correspondent travelling with the long march.
Organised by the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, the long march was initiated for the cancellation of the Rampal power plant project in Bagerhat, which is just 14 kilometres off the world’s largest mangrove forest the Sundarbans.
During the procession, the protesters chanted slogans — “My soil, my mother will not turn into a desert” (Amar maati amar ma morubhumi hobe na) and “We do not want any power plant, which will destroy the Sundarbans” (Sundarban ke dhongsho kore bidyut kendro chai na).
Some local students also joined the procession.
Earlier in the day, on its way, the protesters held a rally at Madhukhali upazila in Faridpur where Prof Anu Mohammad, member secretary of the committee, said if the Sundarbans is destroyed, it will leave a negative impact on the people of the southern region.
- The protesters of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports hold a rally at Madhukhali upazila in Faridpur on Thursday. Prof Anu Mohammad (pictured right), member secretary of the committee, speaks at the rally. Photo: Star
“If there is no sign of life left, what we will do with the electricity,” he said.
After reaching Faridpur on Wednesday, they stopped at Ambika Memorial Hall in the town.
When the oil gas protection body is carrying out the long march to save the Sundarbans, the government on Wednesday fixed October 22 for laying foundation stone of the power plant.
At a rally in Faridpur, the participants vowed to resist the government move to set up the coal-fired Rampal power plant near the wilderness.
The long march, which is expected to reach Rampal on Saturday, will end with a rally at Digraj.
More than 1,200 protesters set out on the long march from the capital’s Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday morning.
Bangladesh and India had inked a deal on April 20 to set up a 1,320MW coal-fired power plant at Rampal.
The project had drawn huge flak from environmentalists and eminent citizens, who say it would jeopardise the Sundarbans.
Source: The Daily Star
