Staff Reporter:
Speakers at a programme have demanded to close down immediately the Rampal Thermal Power Plant, which is destroying the Pasur River and the Sundarbans.
Mentioning that the plant was constructed only to serve India’s interests, they urged the government to shift to sustainable and renewable energy sources from fossil fuels.
They came up with the demand and made the urge during a public assembly organised at Narikel Tala in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat by “Dhoritri Rokkhay Amra (DHORA)” and “Pasur River Waterkeeper” on Friday.
The event was presided over by environmental activist Md Noor Alam Sk.
Abdullah Harun Chowdhury, a professor from the Environmental Science Discipline of Khulna University, was present as the chief guest while Tofazzal Sohel, coordinator of “Haor Rokkhay Amra” and “Khowai River Waterkeeper”, was a special guest.
Sharif Jamil, the member secretary of DHORA and Buriganga Riverkeeper, was the keynote speaker.
Other speakers included environmental organiser Abdur Rashid Howlader, fishermen’s association president Bidyut Mondal, Kamla Sarkar, women leaders Chhobi Hajra and Shikha Haldar, Gaffar Molla, leader of the Dhangmari Dolphin Conservation Team Israfil Boyati, and Hasib Sardar.
In his speech, Abdullah Harun said the environmental damage caused by the Rampal power plant has already been highlighted in the CEGIS study.
A report by the government agency CEGIS states that the level of toxic mercury in the Pasur River is now ten times higher than the permissible limit. Due to pollution in the river, which is the lifeblood of the Sundarbans, aquatic species, including fish, are on the brink of extinction.
Abdullah said the plant has only started operation partially, yet this is the state of the environment.
“If it becomes fully operational, the region’s water, fish, and aquatic species will be destroyed. The surviving aquatic species will carry toxic chemicals, leading to their migration and negative impacts on human bodies and the food chain.”
From November to March, he said, north-to-south wind flow spreads pollution from the plant, causing severe harm to biodiversity in the Sundarbans.
“Since the plant has yet to be fully operational, it should be closed down and replaced with an alternative sustainable renewable solar energy system. The environmental harm caused by keeping the plant operational will far outweigh the loss caused by shutting it down,” he added.
Sharif Jamil said that scientific research has shown evidence of pollution in the Pasur River. Fish stocks in the river and the Sundarbans are dwindling, and fishermen are struggling to survive.
“Therefore, in the public interest and for the protection of the Sundarbans, the Rampal Thermal Power Plant must be shut down immediately.”
In addition, it was highlighted that Bangladesh has approximately 576,000 acres of unused government land, where neither cultivation nor housing exists. Utilising just 10% of this land could generate 25,000MW of renewable solar energy.
