Implement Phulbari contract fully
Demands oil, gas committee
Leaders of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports yesterday urged the government to completely implement the Phulbari contract, which bans open-pit mining, and expel Asia Energy to protect the country's mineral resources.
Addressing a press conference at the committee's Purana Paltan office in the capital, they also urged the country's people to observe Phulbari Day on August 26.
On the day in 2006, three people were killed and 200 others injured after the then Bangladesh Rifles and police opened fire at demonstrators protesting against the open-pit coalmine project of Asia Energy at Phulbari.
The committee Convener Engineer Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah said, “Phulbari's people who protested against Asia Energy taught us how to protect our national resources from the exploitation of both foreign and local thugs.”
He demanded the government enact a law restricting export of mineral resources.
The committee General Secretary Prof Anu Muhammad said, “Observing Phulbari Day is an important part of our struggle to establish the people's ownership and control over the country's resources.”
He said the consultants, mass media owners, bureaucrats and ministers who were working for Asia Energy would go down in history as traitors.
Columnist Syed Abul Maksud, Ruhin Hossen Prince of Communist Party of Bangladesh, Zonayed Saki of Gono Sanghoti Andolon and Mosharraf Hossain Nannu of Communist League of Bangladesh were present at the programme.
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