Protesters are deeming that, it might be the right time for the Bangladeshi government to disengage from the controversial Rampal project. Government ought to say ‘no’ right now to the project, considering the expert suggestions and the huge public demand from home and abroad.
Prof. Anu Mohammad, a professor of Jahangir Nagar University and the member-secretary of the citizen’s movement platform called National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas-Mineral Resources-Power and Ports suggested the government to put away from the Rampal project in such a way on Monday in a meeting held at the national press club, Dhaka. The meeting was chaired by Engr. Imran Hamim Rumon. Among others Prof. Abul Bashar, Prof. Abdul Aziz, Water expert Dr. Enamul Haque, energy expert BD Rahmatullah, member secretary of national committee to protect Sundarban, Abdul Matin and other notable experts were present and had their speeches at that program.
Anu Mohammad said, “it is high time the government needed to revert from the project as it could heavily damage the environment and economy.” Experts, scientists, environmentalists and mass people are all against the Rampal project, he claimed. The government should pay heed to the public demand and disengage from such project.
Prof. Abul bashar said that, the Sundarban itself produces half of the honey that is being produced domestically. One special type of bee species is responsible for much of the honey collection which also causes pollination to a large number of trees in that mangrove forest. Unfortunately the bees of that particular species are very much sensitive to any slight air pollution causing them to lose their generative ability.
Prof Abdul Aziz informed that, the salinity level of the Rivers of the Sundarbans has already risen to a significant level due to the Farakka baradge causing the number Sundori trees to decline to almost half. Rampal power plant could only worsen the salinity situation and may destroy the whole ecosystem of the world’s largest mangrove forest.