Row with locals ends as price, compensation increased

Gas field in Nabiganj in Habiganj district, was settled yesterday, ending a row with the villagers.

The villagers has stopped land development work in the area, demanding proper compensation for their lands and homesteads.

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The Deputy Commissioner of Habiganj at a meeting of the villagers at Nadampur High School ground announced an increased price and compensation for the landowners yesterday afternoon.

Earlier, things were resolved at a meeting held between representatives of landowners and district administration officials at the office of the Deputy Commissioner on Sunday.

Addressing the landowners, the DC said that responding to demands of the people, the price had been raised to Tk 5 lakh per acre. Earlier, it was proposed at Tk 84,450.

Besides, steps will be taken for employing members of affected families in Bibiyana Gas field and the proposed Gas plant of Unocal.

Others who attended the meeting include former MP Sheikh Sujat Miah, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Borhan Uddin, Deputy Collector (Revenue) Mohammad Ataur Rahman, Nabiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Zohurul Islam Ruhel and Habiganj Press Club General Secretary Ruhul Hasan Sharif. Among the landowners, Syed Tozammul Ali, Khaled Ahmed Pathan, Syed Manzur Alam, Haji Mainuddin and Abdul Mukit Khan attended the meeting.

They held demonstrations almost every day almost every day to press the demands.

When contacted yesterday, a senior official of Unocal seeking anonymity said, "We are happy seeing the crisis is resolved. We are ready to pay just price for lands and compensation to landowners. We are also sympathetic about the 9- point demand". He said the company will resume work for the South Pad at the earliest.

Unocal suspended its work at Karimpur village on March 22 following resistance by the villagers. A Bangladeshi companyBengal Development Corporation was building a road there on behalf of Unocal.