Barapukuria locals protest plan for open pit mining
Locals hold a rally in front of the entrance to Barapukuria coal mine yesterday protesting government's plan to go for open pit mining and demanding compensation for aman crop and postponement of the ongoing land survey.Photo: STAR
Local people under the banner of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Minerals Resources, Power and Port besieged Barapukuria Coal Mine yesterday protesting government's plan to go for open pit mining and demanding compensation for aman crops and postponement of the ongoing land survey. Around 1,000 people joined the 48 hour programme that began at 10:30am at the entrance to the coal mine. The agitating people are also demanding withdrawal of the cases filed on January 21 with the local police station against some 16 people who obstructed a move for conducting survey to assess the amount of damage caused due to coal extraction from Barapukuria coal mine. They locked the two main gates and prevented the officials and staff from entering the BCMCL office. Addressing a rally at the entrance to the residential area, the speakers vowed to resist government's move for open pit mining and demanded compensation for aman crops and postponement of the ongoing land survey. They threatened to launch a tougher agitation programme tomorrow (Wednesday) if their demands were not met by 10:30am today. On March 28, the affected people enforced a road and rail blockade programme demanding implementation of their six-point as per the agreement signed on August 30 in 2006, following the death of three people on August 26 the same year when aggrieved villagers tried to besiege the Asia Energy office in Phulbari. Contacted, Managing Director of Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd Engineer Quamruzzaman said the government is yet to take any initiative for open pit mining. The BCMCL authorities agreed to pay compensation to the affected people, he added. Deputy Commissioner Md Jamal Uddin said land survey is a must to assess the damage and for disbursement of money among the affected people.
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