ECNEC okays compensation

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for Barapukuria coalmine victims
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved a project providing a compensation package for rehabilitating the affected people of Barapukuria coal mine (central part) with Tk 1.91 billion, whereby some 3,384 people will be given compensation, reports UNB.
With this ECNEC approved a total of 10 development projects involving Tk 24.38 billion (2,438 crore).
With ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, the approval was given at its meeting at the NEC conference room
The Planning Minister alleged that the previous BNP-led government didn't take any measures to rehabilitate the affected people in Barapukuria.
The present government would now compensate the affected people first and then start extracting coal, he added.
Answering a query, he said that the government is yet to take any decision on whether open pit mining method will be followed or not.