Anti-Rampal protest: Hartal called for Jan 26
Campaigners on Saturday called for a half-day shutdown in the capital on January 26, demanding that the government scrap Rampal power plant near the Sunderbans by the time.
Announcing a series of protest programmes, they alleged that the ‘undemocratic and unpatriotic government’ was implementing anti-people power projects to serve foreign interests.
Several thousand protestors including leftists, academics, columnists, cultural activists gathered at Central Shaheed Minar in the city to attend the rally that concluded their ‘march towards Dhaka’ programme against the coal-fired thermal plant at Rampal.
National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports organised the march that began on November 24 in seven divisions of the country, pressing their seven-point demand.
At the rally, they urged people to be united to save the Sunderbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and a World Heritage site, at any cost, as they claimed that power generation had various alternatives while the Sunderbans had none.
Alleging that the government resorted to coercion to implement the anti-people project ignoring national and international expert opinion, the protesters rejected government’s ‘false’ promises of ensuring highest safety measure to check pollution.
Member secretary of the national committee Anu Muhammad announced that the shutdown would be observed between 6:00am and 2:00pm in the capital on January 26 if the government would not scrap the Rampal power plant by the time.
Besides, the committee would observe Martyred Intellectuals Day on December 14 and Victory Day on December 16 as days to protect the Sunderbans.
It will also observe demand day on December 26 and would hold rallies and demonstrations nationwide to press home its demands.
On January 7, global protest day will be observed when people across the globe who love the nature and environment activists including 43 Indian green campaigners and expatriate Bangladeshis will hold demonstrations.
On January 14, the committee will place an alternative plan for the power and energy sectors.
National committee convener Sheikh Mohammad Shaheedullah urged all to join the protest programmes and remain united in order to save natural resources of the country.
Anu alleged that the government was serving foreign interests instead of serving the interest of Bangladeshi people.
He substantiated his claim by saying the government took up Rampal power plant for Indian company to do business, Bashkhali power plant for China, Rooppur nuclear power plant for Russia while gas blocks for the United States.
He feared that if the Rampal power plant was implemented, about 35 lakh people dependent on the mangrove forest would lose earning sources, manifold would become environmental refugees and five crore people would be exposed to natural calamities.
Expressing doubt about government’s excuse of development for setting up the power plant, Dhaka University professor emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury at the programme said that there was a big question as to for whom the development was.
Rampal power plant will destroy the Sunderbans and subsequently render thousands of people homeless, he said, adding that there was no scope for compromise and accept defeat in the movement to save the forest.
Columnist Syed Abul Maksud urged government to hold a referendum whether people wanted the Rampal power plant or not.
‘If the democracy was in practice, government would scrap the power plant paying heed to the public opinion,’ he said.
Communist Party of Bangladesh president Mujahidul Islam Selim challenged prime minister Sheikh Hasina to an open debate over Rampal power plant at Central Shaheed Minar or through television address.
‘Let the people decide their position regarding the power plant after watching the debate,’ he said.
Ganasanghati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said that government was implementing Rampal power plant by force, not showing respect to public opinion.
Democratic Revolutionary Party general secretary Mushrefa Mishu said the Sunderbans would
not be safe until the
current autocratic government was dragged down from power.
Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque and Jatiya Gana Front coordinator Tipu Biswas termed the government undemocratic and said that if they were patriotic they would not implement the power plant going against the interest of the people.
National Committee to Protect Sunderbans convener Sultana Kamal, energy expert Badrul Imam, rights activist Rahnuma Ahmed, Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan, Ganatantrik Ainjibi Samity and others expressed their solidarity with the rally.
The rally began paying tributes to Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro who died Saturday morning.
One-minute silence was also observed in memory of the iconic leader.
Earlier, a cultural programme, featuring revolutionary songs, drama and recitation, was held at the venue.
After the rally, a colourful procession was brought out and it paraded different city roads.
- See more at: http://www.newagebd.net/article/3615/anti-rampal-protest-hartal-called-for-jan-26#sthash.ewVNGukv.dpuf
