Take swift decision on coal mining, gas exploration

The business people in the port city on Wednesday urged the government to be aggressive in taking decision on coal mining and gas exploration to help rapid industrialisation and accelerate economic growth.
Addressing a reception accorded to the newly elected office bearers of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), they also expressed their continued support for sustaining the business-friendly atmosphere the country achieved after January 11, 2007.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (BGMEA) organised the reception ceremony at a local hotel on Wednesday night.
Newly elected FBCCI President Annisul Haque, First Vice-President Abul Kashem Ahmed and Director Amirul Haque were accorded reception at the ceremony presided over by CCCI President Saifuzzaman Chowdhury.
BGMEA 1st Vice-President MA Salam, CCCI Senior Vice-President MA Latif, BGMEA leader Khalilur Rahman, former Chittagong City Mayor Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury and DGFI Chittagong Chief Colonel Masud Hossain also spoke on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Annisul Haque said FBCCI would come up with its own agenda within the next 15 days.
He added FBCCI would bring out a coal policy from the government within the next six to seven months and make efforts to get at least a BGSL office and a taxpayer's office in Chittagong within the next six months.
The speakers at the ceremony resented that industrialisation was facing a serious setback in Chittagong as the authorities of Bakharabad Gas System Limited (BGSL) stopped giving any new gas connection for industrial use here since September last year.
There was no other option other than going for immediate exploration of coal and gas to overcome the energy crisis that is feared to persist in Chittagong since 2012, observed the speakers.
As such, they called for putting an end to the debate on the coal policy and demanded an immediate decision on exploring coal that could meet a large portion of the demand of energy and help rapid industrialisation and accelerate the country's economic growth.
When India could set up a 4000-MG power plant in Madras using coal from Indonesia, Bangladesh is yet to initiate setting up of such a power plant using its own coal, they said.
Bangladesh had one of the finest quality coals with a higher burning rate in the world, they observed.
It would not be wise to refrain from extracting coal on the plea of pollution and hold back development, they said.
They advocated for the open-pit method of coal mining saying that the people who might be affected while exploring coal in such method could easily be rehabilitated.
The speakers at the ceremony urged the authorities concerned to ensure the benefits of reforms continue at Chittagong port. They also demanded successful implementation of automation system at Chittagong customs house.
They underscored the need for setting up of deep seaport to help the country survive in the global economic race and providing the seven landlocked Indian states transit through Chittagong port.