Barapukuria Coal Mine is facing various crises and uncertainties. Workers and related stakeholders have alleged that the country’s only underground coal mine, located in Parbatipur of Dinajpur, is being pushed toward destruction due to mismanagement, excessive coal stockpiling, and financial losses.
Large quantities of extracted coal have remained stored for a long time, leading to frequent incidents of fire in the coal piles. In addition, excessive pressure has caused sections of the mine’s boundary wall to collapse, while rainwater has reportedly washed away coal from the storage area. This has raised concerns over possible damage to nearby roads and infrastructure.
Two of the three units of the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant have remained shut down for a long period. As a result, a significant portion of the coal is not being used and continues to accumulate in storage yards. Concerned officials say the situation could worsen further if immediate measures are not taken.
It has also been claimed that the mine is suffering financially because coal is being supplied to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) at prices lower than both international market rates and domestic demand levels.
The mine’s workers and employees’ union has placed a six-point demand to protect the mine. Their demands include permission to sell coal on the open market, increasing the price of coal supplied to BPDB, and acquiring land to expand mining operations into new areas.
Workers fear that if the mine is shut down on the pretext of financial losses, around 20,000 to 22,000 families will lose their livelihoods.
The Managing Director of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited said that mining operations are continuing normally. However, due to a shortage of storage space, problems have emerged in preserving the extracted coal.
