Protest in London against Phulbari coal mine

Bangladesh’s National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Seaports on Friday staged a demonstration in London, protesting open-cast coal mining in Phulbari upazila of Dinajpur, Bangladesh.

The UK unit of the Dhaka-based platform staged the demonstration during the annual general meeting of UK-based GCM Resources at Hamilton Palace in West London. GCM Resources is the parent company of Asia Energy Corporation Bangladesh Pty Ltd.

The demonstrators said the Asia Energy Corporation which was forced to leave Phulbari coalmine in face of people’s protest in 2006 is planning to enter Bangladesh, under the name of GCM.

Members of Phulbari Solidarity Committee, London Mining Network and UK Socialist Party also participated in the demonstration.

The protesters said if Phulbari coalmine is casted following the open-pit mining method, at least 30,000 families will lose their homesteads. Nearly, 14,600 hectares of agricultural land will be damaged. It subsequently will affect biodiversity and natural resources in the area, the protesters added.

They cited the GCM report which said GCM had no branch in any other country and it was not even enlisted in the UK main share market. It is planning to obtain approval for mining at the Phulbari coalmine only.