<i>Magurchhara still suffers for '97 blowout</i>
STAR FILE PHOTO
Today is 'Magurchhara day', reminder of the catastrophic gas well explosion at Magurchhara in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar district 14 years ago. Due to the gas blowout on June 14 in 1997, the country suffered a loss of about Tk 3,900 crore but only Tk 38 crore was paid in compensation, according to the sources of a parliamentary standing committee meeting on July 23 in 2009. Besides, an investigation committee formed by the then Awami League government that said the damage to the reserve forest in the area due to the explosion was worth Tk 9,858 crore, while 29 tea gardens in the area suffered losses of Tk 46.7 crore. Following the explosion in the well for gas exploration conducted by US company Occidental, fire rose more than 300 feet high. It caused serious damage to a portion of adjacent Fulbari Tea Garden, Magurchhara Khasia Punjee, Bhanugachh-Srimongal portion of Dhaka-Sylhet railway and Bhanugachh-Srimongal road. About 87.50 acres of land of Lawachhara Reserve Forest got scorched in addition to massive damage to wildlife, nature and environment. Local alliance of four left-leaning political parties -- National Awami Party (NAP-Mujaffar), Gonotontri Party, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal and Communist Party of Bangladesh will form a human chain at Moulvibazar Chawmuhona Square to observe 'Magurchhara day' today.
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