Barapukuria Coal Mine
Land subsidence victims start indefinite sit-in
Land subsidence victims of 10 villages around Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd (BCMCL) went on an indefinite sit-in in front of mine gate yesterday as the authorities failed to resolve the 11-day deadlock over their demand.
Ibrahim Khalil, convenor of Jibon of Sampad Rakkha Committee, a platform of the affected people, announced the indefinite sit-in programme at around 2.00pm, after an hour-long negotiation meeting held at BCMCL conference room yesterday noon, could not make any headway.
At the meeting, Ibrahim Khalil, Md Hamidul Haque, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Md. Jamal Uddin Ahmed on behalf of the DC, Md. Moniruzzaman and Md. Shahinur, UNOs of Phulbari and Parbatipur upazilas and Biman Karmaker, ASP Phulbari circle, were present.
During negotiations, officials on behalf of the DC offered to pay Tk 24 crore compensation but it was turned down by the affected people.
Yesterday was the scheduled date for distribution of Tk 24crore among 955 victims.
Hamidul Haque requested the affected people to receive the cheques but they outrightly rejected it demanding payment of total compensation.
"If all the affected people get their compensation, only then we will wrap up our sit-in and leave the place," said Md. Belal Hossain, general secretary of Jibon of Sampad Rakkha Committee.
Earlier, at a press conference, the victims claimed that they were yet to get Tk 52 crore, the remaining amount of the compensation.
The affected people have been agitating since 2009 after at least 627 acres of land subsided at 10 villages.
Later, the Executive Committee for National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved Tk 190 crore in 2010 as compensation and rehabilitation package for the victims.
The disbursement of the amount started on September 22 last year. So far Tk 140 crore were distributed among the villagers.
Demanding the remaining package money, the victims began a 5-day long sit-in in front of BCMCL entrance gate on June 18 and later extended it till June 21.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments