National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas, Port-Power and Mineral Resources is contemplating a tough movement to force the new Awami League (AL) government to cancel the 1,320MW Rampal coal-fired power plant project near the Sundarbans, reports UNB.
The top leaders of the National Committee are going to sit next week to chalk out a greater movement,
Bangladesh and India have been jointly implementing the coal-fired power plant project at Rampal in Bagerhat ignoring the different political and social organisations including environmentalists.
These organisations are agitating against the project saying that it would be harmful to the Sundarbans, the world's longest mangrove forest, recognised as world heritage by the UNESCO.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled the plaque of the foundation stone of 1,360MW combined cycle Rampal power plant on October 5, saying it would not be a harmful one.
"We'll sit in the coming week to discuss the overall situation and announce fresh movement," Ruhin Hussain Prince, a central leader of the National Committee, told the news agency Friday.
He said the committee pursued a go-slow policy for time being considering the recent political situation. "Now we're again getting ready to launch a greater movement."
The National Committee had last launched a five-day 'long march' on September 24 last year from the Jatiya Press Club in city towards the proposed Rampal Power Plant site demanding the cancellation of the project.
Ruhin Hossain Prince, also a central leader of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), hinted that initially the National Committee will as usual announce action programmes like demonstration, procession, public meeting and rally, and then go for tougher movement.
"If the government does not heed to the call of the National Committee and continues with the anti-people power plant project only to satisfy India, tough action programmes like hartal, blockade and siege will be announced," said another leader of the National Committee.
In the middle of last December, the National Committee leaders at an exchange of views had said that there is no scope to show any laxity in their movement against the coal-fired power plant near the Sundarbans.
