Land acquisition move for power plant protested

People of Dhankhali village formed a human chain at Degree College haat in Kalapara upazila yesterday, demanding an immediate halt to land acquisition for a power plant in the area.

They also sought the prime minister's intervention in this regard.

Rural Electrification Board (REB) has a plan to set up a 1320 MW coal-fired power plant in the area to meet power demand for proposed Payra sea port. The district administration has already taken steps for land acquisition for the power plant.

Mentionable, Power Development Board (PDB) is seting up a 1,320 MW power plant that is under construction nearby villages.

The hour-long programme ended with a street corner meeting there where local Awami League leaders Shahidul Alam, Rajib Gazi, Reaz Talukder, Bazlur Rahman and Jewel Mia, among others, spoke.

Addressing the programme, the speakers said they don't want to give more land to construct the power plant as the lands are the main sources of income to maintain their families.

Doli Begum, 70, a resident of the village, said, "Where will we go if the government takes land from us?"

A number of structures including two high schools, five primary schools, a degree college, union health centre, union land office, UP complex, a few village markets, at least 15 mosques and a community clinic would be removed if the district administration acquires land in the area.

Deputy Commissioner AKM Shamimul Haq Siddique said they are taking step to acquire more land to set up another power plant for REB in the area while PDB has already started setting up a power plant.

Both plants are setting up to meet power demand for the Payra sea port, he said.