Protection Committee demands ban on open pit coal mining

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National Committee for Protection of Oil, Gas, Power, Mineral Resources and Port has threatened an action programme if the government policy is not changed banning open pit coal mining.
The committee leaders made the threat at a press conference in the city Wednesday, reports UNB.
At the conference the committee leaders also admitted that they could not so far build up any "effective movement" against the government to stop its 'anti-state' moves like awarding power plants and gas blocks to foreign companies.
"Yes, we admit we could not build up any resistance against the government moves due to our weaknesses and limitations. But we'll not stop our movement to realise the demands," said Prof Anu Muhammad, member secretary of the committee.
Convener of the committee Engineer Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, former Justice Golam Rabbani, Syed Abul Maksud, Tipu Biswas, Saiful Haque, Ruhul Hossain Prince and Bazrul Rashid Firoz representing different sections also spoke at the press conference.
The committee presented its observations about the draft coal policy, recently made public by the government to draw public opinion.
Demanding amendment to the draft coal policy, they said it is designed to allow open pit coal mining and export of coal.
"This is totally a forgery and the government wants to cheat the people," said Prof Anu Muhammad and demanded ban on open pit coal mining and coal export.
The leaders said they would place their observations on the draft coal policy to the Prime Minister's Office today (Thursday).
The committee will organise countrywide demonstration and hold a rally at Muktangan tomorrow (Friday).
It will also hold another rally on December 3 at Muktangan to announce the next action programme.