On June 17, 2025, at 11:30 AM a protest gathering was held at Shyamoli Park Ground in Dhaka demanding an end to Japanese investment in coal and LNG in Bangladesh. Basically, the Japanese government and other private Japanese investment institutions such as METI, JBIC, and JICA are investing specifically in setting up fossil fuel-based, i.e. coal-fired power and LNG projects in 5 Asian countries, of which Bangladesh is one. This June, Japanese public and private organizations are going to make many important investment decisions. Considering this investment issue, Dhoritry Rokkhay Amra (DHORA) and 15 other organizations jointly organized this protest gathering to call on Japan to stop investing in fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy, along with other countries around the world. The organizing organizations of the event are Dharitri Rakhaye Amara (Dhara), Bangladesh Krishak Federation, Brighters, Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), EquityBD, Global Law Thinkers Society (GLTS), Khasia Students Union (KSU), Mission Green Bangladesh, Organization for Climate Resilience and Environment Conservation (OCREC), Sachetan Foundation, Sundarbans o upakul surokkha andolon, Young Climate Action Network (UCAN), ThreeFifty.org (350.org), River Bangla and Waterkeepers Bangladesh.
Sharif Jamil, Mustafa Kamal Akand, Abdul Karim Kim, Faisal Ahmed, Raoman Smita, Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, ASM Badrul Alam, Saidur Rahman Siam, Mehnaz Mala, Yudhishtir Chandra Biswas, Abu Shahdat Mohammad Sayem, Nur Ataya Rabbi, Ahsan Roni, Ahsan Roni, Blasmi Bare, Monir Hossain, Ikbal Faruk and others spoke at the protest rally.
Sharif Jamil, in his keynote speech, highlighted the purpose of the gathering and said that Japan’s action plan is made in June. We have learned that plans are being made to expand gas by setting up several LNG terminals in Bangladesh again. We want Japan to move towards establishing renewable energy projects.
Mostafa Kamal Akand of Equity BD said, “Japan is resorting to fraud to invest in the coal sector. We want to be exempted from this fraudulent investment by Japan.”
Abdul Karim Kim of DHORA said DHORA has been established as a platform. Protests are being held against Japan’s fraudulent investments in different countries of the world. On behalf of DHORA, I would like to thank all the partner organizations for participating in this protest program in Bangladesh.
River Bangla editor Faisal Ahmed said, “Japanese investors are doing business in Bangladesh. I did not expect such harmful projects from a development partner country like Japan.”
Raoman Smita of the Global Law Thinkers Society said, “We get lessons about development from a friendly country like Japan. But Japan is investing in projects that are harmful to us. We want Japan to be an example of good work among us.”
Nikhil Chandra Bhadra of the Sundarban O Upakul Rokkha Andolon said, “Climate change is occurring due to the harmful effects of fossil fuels. As a result, countless people are losing their livelihood and are leaving the area. We hope that the current interim government will take action on this issue.”
Badrul Alam, ASM of the Bangladesh Farmers Federation, said, “We know that Japan is investing billions of moneys in Bangladesh, but we do not know what damage is being caused by this. Due to the harmful effects of climate change, drought and desertification are occurring in North Bengal, and seasonal cycles are changing. There are many opportunities for renewable energy in our country. However, Japan is investing in the coal sector in the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangladesh for business reasons. We hope that Japan will come out of this type of investment.”
Volunteers of Mission Green Bangladesh performed a flash mob to highlight how investors are destroying nature for the sake of business. The role of environmentalists in improving the environment was also highlighted.
Saidur Rahman Siam of Brighters said, “Japan’s gas project expansion is further increasing carbon emissions. Japan is setting up LNG terminals in Bangladesh and other countries to meet its LNG expansion target. Through this, Japan is misleading us.”
Chalanbil representative Mehnaz Mala said, “The situation of Chalanbil is now critical due to climate change. Farmers are living a miserable life. During the drought season, machines have to be installed to extract water 5 feet below the ground, and during the monsoon season, crop fields are being filled with water before the rains.”
Yudhishthir Chandra Biswas of YOUCAN said, “We, the youth, do not want fossil fuel-dependent investments. Youth want to live in a healthy environment.”
Abu Shahdat Mohammad Sayem of OCREC said, “Japan is pursuing its interests by setting up coal-based power plants. If any country takes punitive measures against it in the future, Bangladesh will be more affected.”
CPRD’s Nur Ataya Rabbi said, “Currently, there are more carbon emissions than in previous years. Japan has a responsibility for this, because Japan is now emitting greenhouse gases. Japan is violating its commitments by continuing harmful projects in developing countries.”
Ahsan Rony of Mission Green Bangladesh said, “It is unfortunate that today we have to find our friendly country Japan guilty of investing in harmful projects.”
Blasmi Bare of the Khasi Students Union said, “The tribals are intertwined with nature. They are completely dependent on nature. Any change in nature affects their livelihood.”
ERDA’s Monir Hossain said, “Currently, the whole world is trying to move away from fossil fuels. Our plan is demand-driven. We need to take initiatives to expand renewable energy wherever possible to meet our electricity needs.”
Ikbal Faruk of Waterkeepers Bangladesh said, “The Maheshkhali and Matarbari investment projects are working like explosives today. We can get more electricity from renewable energy than from coal or LNG plants. Japan, or JICA, has been working as a partner since the 1970s. They used to invest, but now they are earning.”
The gathering featured a performance by Shawon Mime Academy highlighting the harmful effects of fossil fuel use on the environment and the resulting impact on people’s lives and livelihoods.
The participants in the gathering hope that the Japanese government will stop pushing Bangladesh and other Asian countries towards more fossil fuels and that their organizations will change their policies and operations and move towards a transition to renewable energy.
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