Sit-in at Shaheed Minar for Sundarbans

Leaders and activists of various left-wing parties are staging a sit-in at the central Shaheed Minar, calling for the Rampal deal to be shelved and the Sundarbans to be protected. They have declared their determination to prevent implementation of the Rampal coal-fired power plant, even in it means changing the course of politics.  

The sit-in programme was inaugurated on Saturday morning by convenor of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, Engineer Sheikh Muhammad Shahidullah. 

Expressing solidarity with the programme, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) president comrade Mujahidul Islam Selim said, "If this project is implemented, the Sundarbans will be destroyed. There is sufficient evidence to prove this. Our struggle is not against the power plant, but for protecting the Sundarbans."

General secretary of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) comrade Khalequzzaman said that this project only protects the interest of local and foreign looters. They are giving empty promises of development. Experts on their payroll say the Sundarbans will not be harmed.  

Columnist Syed Abul Maksud said that not even 1,600 people of the country's 160 million support this project. This is a conspiracy against the nation. The people who are involved in this conspiracy will find themselves accused of crimes against humanity in 10 to 15 years.

A blank canvas was placed beside the Shaheed Minar for people to write their comments.