Speakers at a press conference yesterday demanded that the government stops the project to set up a coal-based thermal power plant at Rampal upazila of Bagerhat, adjacent to the Sundarbans.
They emphasised conducting an international Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and make public the details of the project to assess its positive and negative aspects.
An agreement was signed on January 29 with India's state-run National Thermal Power Corporation to set up the 1,300-megawatt plant at Rampal, 14 km from the world's largest mangrove forest.
The press conference, “Rampal thermal power plant's possible impacts on the Sundarbans and adjacent areas”, was organised by eight NGOs at Jatiya Press Club.
The NGOs are Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), Center for Human Rights Movement, Save the Sundarbans Foundation, Krishijami Rakkha Committee, Bagerhat Unnayan Commission, and Green Voice.
Bela Chief Executive Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan alleged that the government started acquiring land before completing the EIA and without giving due consideration to environment clearance certificates.
The government's activities prove it is more concerned to ensure India's interests, said Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University.