On June 24, 2025 at 11:00 am, a protest gathering with other activities were organized at Shyamoli Park Ground in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, demanding an end to Japanese private investment in coal and LNG in Bangladesh. Japanese private investment institutions such as MIZUHO, MUFG, SMBC, JERA are investing specifically in setting up fossil fuel-based projects, i.e. coal power and LNG projects, in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines. This June, Japanese private companies and banks are going to make many important investment decisions. Considering this investment issue, Dhoritry Rokhhay Amra and 21 other organizations have jointly organized this protest gathering to call on Japan to stop investing in fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy. The organizing organizations of the gathering are Bangladesh Youth Climate Coalition, Bangladesh Krishak Federation, Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), EquityBD, Environmental Research and Development Alternative (ERDA), Global Law Thinkers Society (GLTS), Brighters, Mission Green Bangladesh, Organization for Climate Resilience and Environment Conservation (OCREC), Khasia Students Union (KSU), Sacheton Foundation, Sundarbans O Upakul surokhha Andolon, Young Climate Action Network (YOUCAN), ThreeFifty.org (350.org), River Bangla, Gorjonn, OAB Foundation, Climate Frontier, Youth Environment and Development Organization and Waterkeepers Bangladesh.
Sharif Jamil, member secretary of Dharatri Rakhhay Amra (DHORA), presented the purpose and main point of the gathering. He said that the country’s environment and the livelihoods of local people are being greatly damaged due to Japanese institutions moving forward with plans to finance coal and gas in Bangladesh. Japan has been one of the most important partners in the development of Bangladesh since independence. But recently, the Japanese government and private organizations are implementing a plan to establish Japanese coal and gas-based power plants and terminals in the Jalani sector of Bangladesh. Not only is it wreaking havoc on the life and environment of this country, but it will also nip in the bud the immense potential that Bangladesh has for ensuring renewable energy security, creating long-term problems for us. We hope that Japan will withdraw its plans to establish fossil fuel-based power plants in Bangladesh and cooperate in the expansion of renewable energy.
Professor Kamruzzaman Majumder, chairman of the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), said, “We need energy security, but if it is coal or fossil fuel-based energy, it will be import-dependent and dangerous.” We have experience with the impact of investments in the fossil fuel sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. We have seen that Dhaka is one of the hottest regions in the world. The average life expectancy in our country is decreasing, the incidence of diseases is increasing, and we are now spending more on our medical treatment. Therefore, we demand that all Japanese institutions stop funding in coal and fossil fuel-based industrialization.
President of Bangladesh Krishak Federation SM Badrul Alam said, “We know that Japanese institutions are reviewing their future activity plans this month. Japan has funded many good projects in Bangladesh in the past.” But the main source of recent power projects is coal and fossil fuels which should be stopped now.
Iqbal Faruk, Head of Research and Implementation at Waterkeepers Bangladesh, said, “Gas and other fuels are being introduced into our country as transitional fuels, which is the wrong solution.” Japanese companies have been investing in Bangladesh’s energy sector for more than a decade and have already made a lot of money. But this financing is threatening our prospects for sustainable development.
Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, coordinator of the Sundarban O Upakul Surokkha Andolon said that due to climate change, coastal areas and the Sundarbans are being destroyed, and people’s lives are at risk. People in those areas are moving to other places. Fossil fuels need to be replaced with renewable fuels. We hope the government will take the necessary measures in this regard.
Mir Mohammad Ali, assistant professor at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, said we are dependent on foreign projects. If these are stopped, we will be in danger. As a result, we need to create our own projects based on our social and environmental characteristics.
“We must reject false solutions. People from other countries, with the help of some of our own people, are destroying our environment and the future of the next generation,” said Raoman Smita, president of the Global Law Thinkers Society (GLTS). This should be stopped. The interim government of Bangladesh should stop projects that are not suitable for our country.
Habibur Rahman, chairman of the Sachetan Foundation, said, “It is very sad that while we are talking against fossil fuels, Japan is investing in these projects. There is no acceptable research on carbon emissions.” Therefore, we cannot say that we are not responsible for carbon emissions. We do not want to question our future.
Farzana Urmi, General Secretary of Gorjon, said, “Fishermen and salt farmers are victims of climate change. We need to decide what to do for them.”
At the protest gathering, Mission Green Volunteers performed a flash mob storytelling, highlighting the impact of installing coal-fired power plants and gas projects and the changes that have occurred in people’s lives through the use of renewable energy, including solar panels. The event concluded with a puppet show performed by Mission Green Bangladesh.
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