Meet domestic demand first

A political consensus is now needed most to ensure this, ignoring the 'double standard' of some donors advocating export of gas.

This was the unanimous view of the leaders of political parties, experts, lawyers and other professionals taking part in a roundtable in the city yesterday, organised by the main opposition party Awami League (AL).

AL leaders including party General Secretary Abdul Jalil and leaders of some other parties were among the participants at the roundtable held at the CIRDAP auditorium.

Jalil said his party prefers domestic use of natural gas for development. The government should seek people's verdict before taking any decision on export of natural gas. "It is the resource of the people and there should be no decision on it without taking their opinion", he observed.

The AL leader however reiterated his party's stand on the issue that Bangladesh could export gas only after meeting its domestic demand and keeping a reserve for 50 years.

Terming gas the 'most environment friendly resource', some speakers said the donors are playing a double standard on gas policy and environment policy. They are advocating export of gas to the detriment of environment and at the same time suggesting steps to protect environment, the speakers noted.

General Secretary of the Gano Forum Saifuddin Ahmed Manik said natural gas should be used in the industrial and power sectors. He urged the AL to join the movement to resist any move by the government to export gas.

Mujahidul Islam Selim, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, criticised the AL for urging the US to conduct a survey on gas reserve of Bangladesh and said this will demoralise people.

Bimal Biswas, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Bangladesh, said gas will be the prime source of energy in the coming days and any decision to export it will be ruinous for the nation.

The speakers included AL leaders Sajeda Chowdhury, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, ASHK Sadiq, Abdul Mannan and Ashiqur Rahman, Prof Badrul Imam, Dr Dil Afroz, Prof Mostafa Chowdhury, Prof Sultana Safi, Barrister Tania Amir and Shahidullah Chowdhury.

Former chairman of the Petrobangla Prof Hossain Mansur presented the keynote paper on Natural Gas Resources of Bangladesh: Reserve, Uses and Demands. A paper on Natural Gas Resources Use in Abating Environmental Degradation in Bangladesh was presented by Chairman of the Environmental Conservation Management Centre Ansarul Karim. Hasan Mahmud of the AL moderated the discussion.