BNP extends support to Rampal hartal

BNP yesterday extended its support to a half-day hartal called by the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports for January 26 demanding cancellation of the Rampal power plant project near the Sundarbans.

BNP Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed announced it at a press conference at Nayapaltan party office in the capital.

The national committee on November 26 said they will enforce the half-day shutdown in Dhaka if the government does not scrap the Rampal project.

In 2009, Bangladesh and India signed a deal to set up two power plants in Shapmari and Katakhali, nine kilometres away from the Sundarbans.

Despite the government's assurance that the power plant project would not harm the Sundarbans, the Unesco remains firm against the project and requested Bangladesh government to cancel and relocate it to a more suitable place.