Govt urged to realise compensation from Chevron, Niko
The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports yesterday renewed its call to realise the long overdue compensation from US company Chevron and Canadian company Niko for the explosions at Magurchhara and Tengratila gas fields, which inflicted a massive loss on the country.
The two companies owe Bangladesh a compensation of Tk 45,000 crore, said leaders of the committee, who were speaking at a discussion at the capital's Mukti Bhaban.
The explosion at Magurchhara field under Chevron occurred on June 14, 1997, while Niko-run Tengratila gas field blew out on January 7, 2005.
Speaking at the discussion, which marked the 15th anniversary of Magurchhara explosion, columnist Syed Abul Maksud, said, "It will be a mistake if the government thinks that only a handful of people are demanding the compensation. It's a demand of the whole nation."
Our politicians and bureaucrats are extremely kind towards foreign multinational companies, he said, but they did not have any compassion for their own country.
Prof Anu Mohammad, member secretary of the committee, said Magurchhara and Tengratila remained a symbol of destruction.
He urged the government to stop lying about limitations of resources and calling in the foreign multinational companies due to these limitations.
Prof Anu said the compensation amounting to five billion dollar or Tk 45,000 crore was equivalent to the allocation in the energy sector for five years.
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