The coal-based Rampal power plant project will not only pose a threat to the Sundarbans but also economically deprive Bangladesh, pro-BNP professionals told a roundtable in the capital yesterday.
They demanded shifting the plant site elsewhere and reviewing the memorandum of understanding signed between Bangladesh Power Development Board and National Thermal Power Company of India as it seems to be one sided containing less benefits for Bangladesh.
The roundtable, “Rampal Power plant: Triple Jeopardy-Technical, Economic and Environment”, was organised by the Association of Engineers Bangladesh at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB).
Former IEB president ANH Akhter Hossain presented a keynote paper claiming that the project was putting in jeopardy the six percent the Sundarbans contributes to the national economy.
He said coal-based power plants were one of the largest polluters in the world, responsible for emission of greenhouse gases and environmental degradation.
The project's consultant proposed using the low oxides of nitrogen (NOx) burner technology to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions although it is of low efficiency when compared to selective catalytic reduction, he claimed.
Speakers also questioned why a 15-year tax holiday was granted to Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited, leading to a substantial amount of loss in revenue.
They also pointed out that despite being a joint venture plant, the Bangladesh government would provide sovereign guarantee for the full loan coming from the Exim Bank of India.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said electricity was very important for Bangladesh and questioned why people would have power at the cost of the Sundarbans.
“Not only for the environment but also in economic terms the forest is very important for us,” he added.
Fakhrul alleged that the government was implementing various strategies to stay in power, including protecting the interests of those who were patronising it.
He said he visited Khulna on Sunday and found out that the local people had little knowledge of the power plant's impacts. “Locals need to be involved in the movement against the Rampal power plant,” he said.
Warning the Indian government, Prof Mahbub Ullaha said if the Bangladesh side of the forest was affected, one day that on the Indian side would also face damage. Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury, Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University and Barrister Rumeen Farhana also spoke.