'Implement Phulbari accord by Dec 31'
Tougher agitation from Jan threatened
Phulbari people take out a procession at the upazila headquarters in Dinajpur in observance of 'black day' yesterday. On this day in 2006, three people were shot dead, 50 others injured as law enforcers opened fire on the agitators who joined a gathering to besiege the office of Asia Energy there protesting the planned open pit mining. Photo: STAR
National Committee for Protection of Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port yesterday threatened to launch a tougher agitation programme from January next year if Phulbari agreement was not implemented by December 31 this year. The leaders of the committee gave the deadline at a rally held at Nimtola intersection in Phulbari upazila. Local unit of the committee organised the rally in observance of 'black day' and National Resources Protection Day here yesterday. On this day (August 26) in 2006, three people were shot dead, 50 bullet-hit, and 200 others injured in baton charge when law enforcers turned brutal on the agitators who joined a gathering to besiege the office of Asia Energy in Phulbari upazila of the district protesting the planned open pit mining by Asia Energy. Thousands of people from Phulbari, Nawabganj, Parbatipur and Birampur upazilas joined the programme organised by the committee demanding cancellation of the open pit mining. Chaired by committee's local unit convener Saiful Islam Jewel, the Nimtola rally was addressed, among others, by Prof Anu Muhammad, secretary of the 'national committee', Engineer Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, convener of the committee, Junayed Saki, and Rabindra Nath Soren of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad. The speakers said the six-point agreement signed between the government and Phulbari people on August 30, 2006 has to be implemented fully. The agreement includes driving the Asia Energy out of the country, banning the method of open pit mining and compensation for the dead and injured. The leaders of the 'national committee' urged the locals to stay united to protect their natural resources and foil any attempt to loot resources from here. They also announced a countrywide agitation programme on September 2 to mount pressure on the government to meet the demands of the 'national committee'. Earlier, people from different area thronged Nimtola and placed wreaths at the memorial for those who died in police firing during agitation on August 26 in 2006.
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