WATERKEEPERS BANGLADESH
WATERKEEPERS BANGLADESH
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • About WKB
    • What We Do
    • History
    • Members
    • Board Of Directors
    • Together With
  • Activities
  • Resources
  • Media
  • Contact
  • Donate

Press Conference on “Industrialization in Southern Bangladesh: Citizens’ Concern”

  • Home
  • Press Conference on “Industrialization in Southern Bangladesh: Citizens’ Concern”
  • April 7, 2018
  • admin

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Waterkeepers organized a press conference in Dhaka Reporters Unity Roundtable auditorium on “Industrialization in Southern Bangladesh: Citizens’ Concern” on 7 April 2018. Former adviser to a non-party caretaker government and vice president of BAPA Rasheda K. Chowdhury presided over the press conference while BAPA general secretary Dr. Mohd. Abdul Matin was moderating the event. Sharif Jamil,

coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh and Joint Secretary of BAPA delivered the keynote speech along with a multimedia presentation. BAPA vice-president, eminent writer-intellectual Sayed Abul Maksud, Prof. Badrul Imam, Dhaka University, local residents of Kalapara KM Shahjul Islam and Advocate Bashir Uddin also gave their speeches in the press conference. Former General Secretary of BAPA Mohidul Haque Khan, BAPA joint secretaries Mohammad Shahjahan Mridha, Mihir Bishas and Humayun Kabir Sumon, leader of National Committee to protect oil, gas, mineral resources, power and Port Ruhin Hossain Prince and Dr. Mahbub Hossain, BRAC University were present among others in the press conference.

Mr. Sharif Jamil spoke about the analysis of several major projects in Kalapara, including changing the agricultural land in Patuakhali district. In his speech, he showed concerns about the construction of coal based power plants and coal terminals under the Rabnabad Channel and its adjoining areas, important for the migration of fisheries between the mainland and the Bay of Bengal. He said that the environmental impact assessment of 4 thermal power plants under construction is not being properly accomplished.
Moreover, the geology and land structure of the Kuakata region is different from other places in the country. In his speech, he presented two demands: 1) to ensure credible Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) before the industrialization in Kalapara and Patuakhali regions; and 2) Before establishing any large-scale infrastructure including each thermal power plant, to ensure a transparent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). He presented the report of the fact finding mission to Payra area that revealed that the country would loss fish recourses that worth about 4 billion taka every year from the damages it would be happening from the coal pollution in Rabnabad River and Andharmanik Ilish Sanctuary.  Rasheda K. Chowdhury said, “the world is experiencing hardship already due to the misleading development activities by destroying the environment. China and India are moving away from coal-based projects. To adopt any development plan, take environmental survey and publish it publicly. We do not want a development that endangers our future and nature.”Abul Maqsud said, we are aware of the environmental problems of South Bengal. The common people are endangered and they do not want land acquisition without proper compensation. But it should be environmentally friendly and sustainable development with appropriate study and appropriate customs. He demanded the listing of the industrial factories that were approved and the entrepreneurs’ political identity and to make that public. He also demanded cancellation of the coal based power plants and generate power from renewable sources. Professor Badrul Imam said that any development should be sustainable. It was not understandable how a red category industry near the Sundarbans could be Green category suddenly. He further mentioned, “This indicates the detrimental mindset of the government which is to be changed immediately for greater national interest”.  Dr. Mohd. Abdul Matin said, “We want development, but it should not harm people. We will make economic development, but the environment must be of the most importance. If the environment is not given priority to the development activities, the development itself will not sustain.” Local resident KM Shahjul Islam said that the agriculture land of Kalapara was destroyed and allocated to the coal based power plants. The Environmental impact studies were not done properly; public opinion had not been accepted. He requested for a comprehensive environmental survey before taking development plan in South Bengal. Local people Advocate Bashir Uddin said that the process of getting the 9 thousand MW coal based thermal power plant in Kalapara was underway. Because of the brokers of the land, the compensation for land acquisition was not given accurately. There was a lot of harassment in the process of land acquisition and compensation.

Previous Post
Next Post

Leave a comment

Cancel reply

Recent Posts

  • Events on International Day of Action for Rivers 2023 Across Bangladesh
  • Waterkeepers Bangladesh organized a Uthan Boithok at Taltali, Barguna on 9th March 2023
  • Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Upokuliyo Janakllyan Sangha, and Amra Kolaparabasi organized a Uthan Boithok at Water Museum, Pakhimara, Kalapara on 9th March 2023
  • Waterkeepers Bangladesh organized a Debate & Art Competition and Cultural Programs at Mongla Girls High School, Mongla on 8th March 2023
  • Waterkeepers Bangladesh organized a Uthan Boithok at Banishanta, Dacope, Khulna on 7th March 2023

Recent Comments

  1. A WordPress Commenter on Discovery incommode earnestly commanded mentions.

Recent Post

  • crysa
    March 23, 2023
    Events on International Day of Action for Rivers 2023 Across Bangladesh
  • crysa
    March 10, 2023
    Waterkeepers Bangladesh organized a Uthan Boithok at Taltali, Barguna on 9th March 2023
  • crysa
    March 10, 2023
    Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Upokuliyo Janakllyan Sangha, and Amra Kolaparabasi organized a Uthan Boithok at Water Museum, Pakhimara, Kalapara on 9th March 2023

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • May 2020
  • February 2020
  • November 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • October 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • January 2016
logo wht

About Us

Waterkeepers Bangladesh safeguards water bodies and ecosystems entailing water sources on which all life depends

Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin

Contact Us

  • +88 02 48115429, +88 017 98 099 909
  • info@waterkeepersbangladesh.org
  • House#159, Road#06, Block#Ka PICI Culture Housing Society, Mohammadpur, Dhaka-1207

Follow Us On Facebook

© 2015 Waterkeepers Bangladesh All rights reserved. Developed by MH HOST BD