'Cancel deal with US company'
Fifty two citizens including some eminent personalities, academics, writers, cultural activists and professionals yesterday demanded cancellation of the gas deal signed with US oil company ConocoPhillips.
In a statement, they said the agreement is lopsided and against the country's interest.
The protesters include novelist Shawkat Ali, Prof Anisur Rahman, Justice Golam Rabbani, Prof Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury, litterateurs Hasan Azizul Haque and Selina Hossain, Prof Anu Muhammad, Prof MM Akash, columnist Syed Abul Maksud, Prof Khaliquzzaman Elias, Prof Syed Akram Hossain, Prof Ahsanul Haque, historian Ahmed Kamal, noted theatre activist Mamunur Rashid, Engineer Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah and Prof Piash Karim.
On June 16, the government signed a production sharing contract with ConocoPhillips for oil and gas exploration from two deep-sea blocks in the Bay of Bengal in efforts to meet the rising energy demand.
The deep-sea blocks DS-08-10 and DS-08-11 cover an area of 5,158 square km and are located about 280 km from the port city of Chittagong.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments