Body to protect nat’l resources slams govt

The National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas, Power-Port and National Resources will mark the Independence Day with a mass oath to protest what it said handing over the national wealth to foreigners. The protest will be held on March 26 in front of National Press Club, the committee’s leaders announced on Monday. Addressing a rally outside National Press Club the leaders said there is no use to make a world record in singing the national anthem when “the national wealth is being handed over to looters.” The rally was meant to protest power hike, extension of rental and quick rental power plants contracts, leasing out gas blocks to foreign oil companies and setting up coal-fired power plants near Sundarbans forest under joint ventures with India and China. Prof Anu Mohammad said the government hiked the power tariff to cover up the loss of the rental power plants and satisfy their owners, according to a news agency.