'Meet 6-pt demand, protect Phulbari environment'
National Oil, Gas Minerals and Port Protection Committee will observe the second anniversary of Phulbari killing today with different programmes including placing floral wreaths to the victims.
On this day in 2006, people of Phulbari and adjoining upazilas joined a peaceful programme to lay siege to the office of Asia Energy Corporation (AEC), a UK-based company, in Phulbari when the law enforcers intercepted them about half kilometre from the office.
As the law enforcers went into action and opened fire, three people were killed and several others injured.
Thousands of people from Phulbari, Birampur, Parbatipur and Ghoraghat upazilas that day took to the street demanding cancellation of Phulbari Open-pit Coal Mine Project and expulsion of AEC from the country.
National Oil, Gas Minerals and Port Protection Committee of Dinajpur yesterday held a human chain in front of Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner's Office to press home their six-point demand signed soon after the violence.
To mark the day, national and local bodies of Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Protection Committee have jointly chalked out a programme including mourning procession, milad mahfil and laying wreath on the graves of the diseased.
Talking to this correspondent, Prof Anu Muhammad, member secretary of National Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Protection Committee, yesterday demanded punishment to the killers and fulfillment of the six-point demand.
Implementation of the project would render about four lakh people in the area homeless and threaten environment of the surrounding areas, he said.
Comments