Barapukuria Agitation Called Off
Compensation before Eid promised
Villagers around Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd (BCMCL) yesterday called off their 'indefinite blockade' programme as the BCMCL authorities assured the agitators to disburse compensation money before the upcoming Eid festival.
They started the agitation on Monday noon demanding compensation for damage of infrastructures in 15 villages caused by underground mining, resettlement of affected villagers with premium compensation for land subsidence due to the same cause and job opportunity at BCMCL for members of the affected families.
The agitators had blocked two entrances of BCMCL, keeping the officials and staffs virtually confined to the complex.
Yesterday's settlement came at a meeting between the leaders of Bhumi O Sampad Rakkha Committee, a body representing the affected villagers, and BCMCL authorities.
Local administration arranged the meeting at Monmela Rest House of BCMCL.
"We called off the programme as the BCMCL authorities gave assurance to give compensation before the Eid," said Md Mokhlesar Rahman, president of Bhumi O Sampad Rakkha Committee, after the two-hour-long meeting that ended at around 4:00pm.
The meeting decided to form a committee comprising high officials from Petrobangla to assess the damage of infrastructures caused by underground mining, BCMCL Managing Director (MD) Quamruzzaman said.
At the meeting the leaders of Bhumi O Sampad Rakkha Committee demanded suspension of the land survey but the MD was able to convince them that the land survey was to be completed for the sake of issuing the premium compensation for land subsidence.
Earlier in the morning yesterday, the agitating villagers blocked Parbatipur-Maddhapara highway and threatened to block the rail track if their demands were not met immediately.
The affected people started the agitation programme as the BCMCL authorities failed to meet their demand despite assurance given during a similar programme on July 19, said the agitators.
Earlier on March 10 this year, the affected villagers observed went on a hunger strike to press home their demands.
The land subsidence, which was first detected in May 2006, till date damaged at least 646 acres of land and affected at least 2600 families of 15 villages around Barapukuria coal mine, BCMCL sources said.
Meanwhile, the coal production of BCMCL has remained suspended since May 11 this year when an accident inside the mine left one person killed and 18 others including two Chinese miners wounded.
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