BEN Newsletter, Vol.5, Nos. 7-10
(March 8, 2009)
[Editor’s Introduction: Today is March 8, the International Women’s Day. BEN greets all its female members and women of Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world on the occasion of this day. Item [1] presents the BEN statement marking the occasion.
The past two weeks have been very somber for the country. The BDR events, including the killing of army officers that took place in Pilkhana on Feb 25-26, shocked the country. What was initially portrayed as a mutiny over economic and professional issues has now come to be believed as a conspiracy to destabilize the country. Investigations are going on, and everybody hopes that it will be possible to get to the bottom of the events, identify the culprits and their sponsors, and measures will be taken to prevent recurrence of such events in the future. Item [2] presents a BEN statement on the Pilkhana events.
The Tristate (NY/NJ/CT) chapter of BEN held a meeting on February 15 to discuss the Climate Change conference held by BAPA and BEN on Jan 2, 2009 in Dhaka and the follow up steps that can be taken. The meeting decided to hold a Bangladeshi rally at UN HQ in New York in the Spring to project the demands of the people of Bangladesh with regard to the climate change issue. Item [3] presents a report on the meeting.
Meanwhile, a BEN chapter for Delaware Valley (comprising Pennsylvania, Delaware, and south New Jersey) was formed at a meeting held on Feb 21 in Philadelphia. The meeting also included a video presentation and discussion on the International Mother Language Day of Feb 21. Item [4] presents a report on the meeting.
Item [5] presents a report on BAPA/ARPA work among the Khasia in southern Sylhet (greater) area.
In recent days, Barapukuria has been in the news. It seems that land subsidence is threatening the project itself. Item [6] presents a report.
Item [7] reports that the government is planning to review the draft coal policy. BEN hopes that in doing so the government will take due note of the Barapukuria experience, as exemplified by the report in item [6]. BEN hopes that BAPA will take due note and play an active role in the review process.
Item [8] reports on the damage caused to the coral reef island of St. Matrin’s by excessive crowding, etc. BEN hopes that the government will take requisite measures to preserve the fragile ecology of the island.
Item [9] presents a report of RAB identifying an illegal poly bag factory. The ban on polybag has been one of the significant achievements in the area of environmental protection. BEN hopes that this achievement will be upheld and strictly enforced.
Finally item [10] reports on increasing use of electric wheelers in Dhaka and other cities. BEN hopes that the government will take note of this spontaneous development and harness its positive potential to address both the problem of transportation and the problem of environmental pollution.
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[1] International Women’s Day!
Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN), a global network of non-resident Bangladeshis, greets all its female members, all the women of Bangladesh, and also women elsewhere in the world, on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.
The Day originated with thousands of working women in New York taking to streets to protest against inequitable wages and sexual harassment, and to demand 12 hour working day. In 1910 about 100 women delegates representing 17 countries decided to initiate an International Women’s Day at the International Conference of Socialist Women in Copenhagen, and since then the international community has been observing March 8 as a day of solidarity with women and their struggle for equality. The United Nations declared 1975 as the International Women’s Year on March 8.
Women in Bangladesh have made some progress in the areas of access to education and credit. However, overall the situation still remains unequal and unsatisfactory. Frequent reports of mistreatment of young women working in garments factories bear testimony to that reality, as do the incidents of killing and maiming of women over dowry issues.
Following the 1996 Beijing conference on women the government of Bangladesh in 1997 adopted the National Policy on Women promoting rights of women in different areas. However, the government in 2004 cancelled that policy. The caretaker government tried to adopt a modified version of the 1997 policy, but was thwarted by religious fundamentalist forces of the country.
On this March 8 of 2009, BEN hopes that renewed attempt will be made to adopt a national policy on women acceptable to the women of the country and their representative organizations. BEN also notes that adoption of policy, while important is not the panacea. BEN therefore urges the women to organize themselves and wage a sustained campaign to achieve and protect their legitimate rights. BEN also expects the women of Bangladesh to come forward to play an active role in the movement to save Bangladesh’s environment.
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[2] BEN statement on BDR events
Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN), the global network of non-resident Bangladeshis, expresses its deep shock and grief at the BDR events of Feb 25-26. The systematic killing of the Army officers, serving BDR on deputation, was simply diabolical. What was initially portrayed as a mutiny over economic and professional issues has now come to be believed as a deep and dangerous conspiracy to destabilize the country. The government secured a negotiated settlement, thus averting a civil war and bloodshed on a wider and national scale.
Investigations are going on, and BEN, like many others, hopes that it will be possible to get to the bottom of the events, identify the culprits and their sponsors, and bring them to justice.
BEN also hopes that measures will be taken to prevent recurrence of such events in the future. Such measures on the one hand should involve rooting out the forces that foment, instigate, and carry out such conspiracies. On the other hand, such measures should also address the issues of equality and fairness, without which it is difficult to maintain cohesion and internal solidarity of an organization.
BEN offers its sincere condolence to all the families that have lost their won in the Pilkhana carnage. BEN hopes that they the families and friends of the slain will find strength from the fact that their loved ones will be remembered gratefully by the nation as a whole. BEN hopes that the army and the government will take adequate care of these families.
BEN finally hopes that the nation will recover from the shock and tragedy, will unite, consolidate the democracy, and carry the country forward.
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[3] Report on the BEN New York meeting of Feb 15, 2009
A well attended BEN meeting, organized by the BEN Tristate (NY/NJ/CT) chapter, was held on Sunday in Jackson Heights, NY.
- Taufiq Choudhury, Coordinator of BEN NY/NJ/CT chapter began the meeting welcoming call and setting out the agenda. Prof. Alauddin of Wagner College, a prominent expert on Bangladesh’s arsenic problem, presided over the meeting. Dr.
Nazrul Islam, BEN Coordinator, made a presentation on the recent BAPA-BEN conference on climate change held in Dhaka on Jan 3, 2009. He noted that the conference had proved very successful, surpassing the expectations of the organizers with regard to number of papers presented and registered participants. Dr. Nazrul observed that while there are many conferences held on climate change, most of them are donor driven. By contrast, the BAPA-BEN conference of Jan 3 was entirely an initiative of Bangladeshis themselves and hence had a special value. Further, it was a conference attended by not only by experts but also political leaders, activists, and representatives of the people of areas most likely to be affected by climate change. The conference was well covered by the media so that it helped raise awareness among the general public about the impending danger that Bangladesh faces on account of climate change.
The presentation was followed by screening of some video clippings of the conference prepared by Dr. Kahlequzzaman. Also copies of the program of the conference and the volume of abstracts of papers were distributed among the participants.
In discussing possible follow-up activities, Dr. Nazrul noted that saving Bangladesh from the climate change disaster has become the most important challenge for Bangladeshis now, and non-resident Bangladeshis have an important role to play in meeting this challenge. He suggested the idea of holding a Bangladeshi rally in front of the UN headquarter in New York sometime in coming spring/summer to draw attention of the international community to the dangers that climate change poses to Bangladesh and to demand urgent actions on the part of the developed countries to reduce their Green House Gas emissions in order to stabilize the climate.
The participants of the meeting were unanimous in their support and enthusiasm for the idea and suggested many concrete ideas and steps that may be taken in organizing such a rally. Among these are:
1) To contact the Bangladesh Society of New York and other community organizations to enlist their support for such a rally.
2) To contact various local schools to enlist support and participation by Bangladeshi school children and teachers.
3) To contact the media to seek their support, including free announcements and coverage. 4) To suggest to BAPA to hold a similar rally on the same day in Dhaka in front of the local UN Office.
5) To explore the possibility of synchorized rallies in other capitals where there are BEN chapters and/or large number of Bangladesis live.
It was decided that the Coordinating Committee of BEN NY/NJ/CT chapter will take follow up actions in the light of the suggestions made, establish contact and hold preliminary talks with leaders of Bangladesh Society of New York and other community organizations, and organize in near future a separate organizing meeting with broad participation of leaders of community organizations, media outlets, literary, cultural, and sports organizations, educationists, schools, and other organizations that play an important role in the lives of NRBs in the area.
The meeting also discussed BEN 2009 fundraising. The participants appreciated BEN and BAPA principle of self-reliance and expressed their willingness to support this principle. Many participants made their contributions on the spot. Others expressed their intention to do so soon.
At the end of the meeting Dr. Alauddin made a power point based presentation on the pollution and health risks created by Hazaribag tanneries and urged for establishment of Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) and other steps to reduce pollution and health risk. He urged the tanneries owners to take responsibility and do their part in saving the environment and workers.
- Taufiq Choudhury concluded the meeting thanking everybody for their participation and seeking their cooperation in future.
The meeting was followed by a lunch during which participants continued their discussion in an informal mode.
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[4] Report on the BEN meeting in Philadelphia
A well attended meeting was held on February 21 in Philadelphia at the residence of Engr. Golam Kabir. Many NRBs from different parts of PA, DE, and NJ took part in the meeting. BEN Coordinator, Dr. Nazrul Islam participated in the meeting.
The meeting started with a video presentation on Feb 21, the International Mother Language Day. The video prepared by Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, a prominent NRB leader, was appreciated by all.
Following the segment on Feb 21, Dr. Nazrul Islam made a presentation on BEN, its achievements, and its future plans. In particular he informed about the BAPA-BEN conference on climate change held in Dhaka on Jan 2, 2009 and the follow up meeting of BEN NY/NJ/CT chapter of Feb 15, and the planned Bangladeshi rally on climate change to be held in Spring at UN HQ in NYC. He urged all to join BEN and take part in the fight to save Bangladesh from environmental disaster and climate change.
Participants displayed enthusiasm about BEN, and a BEN chapter was formed for the Delaware Valley with Engr. Golam Kabir as the Coordinator and Jawadul Jamil. Badruzzaman Alamgir, Faruq Siddique, Bonni, Ayeshga Fazlullah, Faruq Jan, and Mian Lutful Karim, as members.
The Committee is expected to meet soon to incorporate other members as necessary and to chalk up BEN program for the area.
The meeting ended thanking Engr. Golam Kabir, Dr. Khalequzzaman, and Dr. Ziauddin and their families for organizing the meeting.
[5] A report on Zhimai Dispute & APRA Movement
By Sharif Jamil,
National Coordinator, APRA & Joint Secretary, BAPA.
Dated: 04 March 2009
Introduction to Zhimai
Zhimai is a hilly area of Bangladesh, situated at Kulaura Upazilla of Maulavibazar District. This area was once a deep forest, part of the tail-end of Meghalaya adjacent to Tripura Boarder in between Shagornal & Moroichara boarder-area of Bangladesh. Historically a group of Khasi indigenous community in Sylhet division would live there since early 19th century. In Zhimai Punji, there are at least 70 Khasi families now having there traditional livelihood of cultivating betel-leaf at their Pan-Zoom in Zhimai.
In the year 1956, as part of Tea Gardening in Sylhet Division, Zhimai Tea Estate was established there. At present, Zhimai area means the Zhimai Punji and Zhimai Tea Estate. Zhimai Tea Estate was initially given lease of around 900 acres of land by the East-Pakistan authority where there were Pan-zooms and deep forest. The very first Lessee sold the Tea Estate to the current management by the year 1965 while a very minimum area was brought under tea-gardening. Later, around 600 acres of deep forest surrendered to the government by the current Zhimai Tea Estate authority out of the leased area. Around 150 Acres of land is now under tea-gardening that expanded by Zhimai Tea Estate, mostly developed in last decade.
The Dispute
In early January 2009, Zhimai Tea Estate Authority cut-down number of trees in the Pan-zoom of Zhimai, Demarcated thousands of trees that are to be felled-down and started construction of Labor-quarter there in the name of expansion of the tea garden which revealed a direct threat of displacement to the Khasi people of Zhimai Punji. Despite the intervention & destruction to the land & livelihood of the Khasi, it is found that the tree felling would impact severely to the Greenery, Bio-diversity, Ecology and overall Environment of the hills & forest of Sylhet Division, Bangladesh.
APRA on Zhimai
Since the formation of APRA (Adibashi Poribesh Roskhya Andolon), the movement administered by BAPA for the protection & conservation of our forest & greenery, has created substantial values, acceptance & impact all over the country. Particularly in Sylhet Division the achievements so far against Reckless Stone Extraction in Jafflong area and Ruthless Tree Felling in Khegurichara Area along with the resistance opposing 3D Seismic Survey in Lawachara, developed a strong network that recognized a bridge between the grass-root level & policymakers protecting our forest resources. Indigenous people of Sylhet area who are the very first stakeholder of those forests & greenery are now finding new hope on their existence by protecting the nature and greenery under the umbrella of APRA of BAPA.
When the construction of the proposed labor quarter of Zhimai Tea Estate is halfdone, a team of Khasi from Zhimai along with Fr. Joseph Gomes, the Divisional Coordinator of APRA rushed to Dhaka and had a meeting together in presence of Mr. Sharif Jamil, National Coordinator of APRA on 20 January 2009. Discussing the dispute and the status there, APRA took the issue into its account seriously and set-up a strategy to go through against the environmental destruction for the tree felling by Zhimai Tea Estate. As it was found that the relation between the Khasi, the Tea Garden authority and the local civil society leaders including the newly elected MP of that area is very warm and good, the meeting decided to convey the concern of APRA on such activity to all parties being united not to allow any further activity by Tea-garden inside the Zoom Area. Simultaneously, we would organize movement gradually against the dispute step by step having meeting with all parties, giving letter to the administration, protesting such activities locally and nationally.
By end January, Fr. Joseph Gomes discussed the local MP, Tea Garden authority and other local leaders expressing the concern of APRA on Tea-garden Expansion inside the Zoom and conveyed the stand of BAPA against tree felling on hills under Khasi. Some representatives of local and national media including Jugantar and Prothom Alo also had been informed about the concern of APRA and they covered the news of the dispute in their dailies. The tea garden responded positive and assured that they will not do anything by force inside that area further.
By mid February, suddenly the tea estate authority sent worker inside the zoom again to complete the under-construction labor quarter. The Khasi people of Zhimai Punji protested the workers and the workers flew away leaving their construction equipments there. After this incident, Mr. Sharif Jamil and Fr. Joseph Gomes handled it very quickly and let the Khasi people handover the equipments to local Thana filing a General Diary. The APRA leaders talked to local administration and tea garden authority to avoid any unexpected consequence on this. On 20 February 2009, a team of APRA, BAPA headed by Mr. Sharif Jamil visited the site while Fr. Joseph Gomes, Mr. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Member Secretary of Habiganj Poribesh Andolon (HAPA) and one local journalist was in the team. The team first met one civil society leader of Kulaura who is also one of the negotiators of this dispute Mr. Enam Ahmed at Kulaura and discussed the environmental concerns on this.
The Visit & Findings
BAPA team entered in to Zhimai area around 11.30am on 20 February 2009. To enter into the Zhimai Punji area, we found a gate constructed by the Tea Garden Authority which remained locked and the Guard of the Garden opened it getting permission from the garden authority. It is also applicable for the innocent indigenous people of Zhimai Punji. In fact, the garden authorities in Bangladesh thus keep control over the indigenous people every where that is also illegal as the roads by laws should be always out of lease if those remain inside the leased area even. Number of Khasi people from Zhimai Punji received the team and directly went to the Zoom where the Betel-leaf garden was demolished by then and number of trees was demarcated to be felled. Some of the trees are demarcated but all the trees would be felled down as the tea garden authority declared their expansion in that area. We found clear demarcation of Bamboo Fence in the boundary established & maintained by the Khasi for many years to protect their Pan-zoom while tea estate had no demarcation. Now there are dead branches of Betel-leaf and some felled trees inside the Zoomboundary.
From there, the team went to the place where the Labor quarter is under construction and found the horrendous aggression. Cutting down trees, twelve houses are half made there. Actually the Disputed Labor Quarter process of demolishing all the trees of that area is started by constructing those houses. The team found another quarter adjacent to the new one which was established two years back suppressing the Khasi people who could not think even to protect them entering into their zoom. And this had become the common practice of the teagarden to cut down trees every year in the name of garden expansion. Construction of Labor-quarter is the first step of such on-going evil activity.
The team became confirm about the intension of the tea-garden as it found another Labor-quarter adjacent to the previous one and it was established three years back. Despite tea-gardening, they planted Banana-tree cutting down the big trees of betel-leaf cultivation there. So, the current attempt of the tea garden is also to chop-down the valuable trees to make quick, unfair and illegal money in the name of garden expansion.
The innocent Khasi people were actually helpless allowing the Zhimai Tea Estate for such encroachment. Not only that, the garden authority used to take cash amount from the Punji regularly as well as. Garden administration and owner are that powerful having extra relation with the administration and local political leaders. Consultation meeting with the Khasi The team climbed on to the Punji then and had a consultation meeting with the Khasi there in Zhimai Punji. More than 100 Khasi persons of that Punji attended the meeting including the Mantri while BAPA team expressed strong support towards them and called them to be united protecting the trees and greenery in the hills.
Meeting with the Tea Garden Authority
The team then met the Manager of the garden and discussed about the issue. He put his arguments; the team expressed their concerns and requested them not to proceed on cutting down any tree in the hill.
Current Status
Before 5/6 days some unknown miscreants demolished 2/3 under construction houses of the proposed labor quarter at night and the garden authority compelled the Khasi people to seat with their local negotiators. The MP and Mr. Enamul Haque asked them to allow the garden building the houses and they would demarcate that area keeping the trees under the zoom. Otherwise, the garden authority would file case Labor Quarter Built 2 Years Ago Labor Quarter Built 3 Years Ago against the Khasi people with the allegation of demolishing the labor quarter and also they would not allow the Khasi people enter into the Punji closing the gate. Khasi people have become again helpless & bound to obey the decision of constructing the labor quarter inside their Zoom.
Conclusion
This is an approach of demolishing punji, zoom and greenery in Zhimai area, destruction to the environment for money where power people and administration are also involved. Gradually, the entrance of the tea-garden building the quarter will actually facilitate the garden cutting down more then 50,000 trees. This is how, Khasi people are getting displaced & homeless, at the same time hills are losing the greenery and forest resources of Bangladesh are getting its existence only in paper & government document. We should stand beside the trees, beside the punji & zoom. There are also some valid legal points to think for some legal actions against such activities of Tea-gardens. We will way out the further steps clarifying our periphery and capacity certainly.
Information Source: Consultation meeting with the Khasi and Tea Estate Manager
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[6] Barapukuria coal mine in trouble
800 miners lose job; production stopped since Feb 18; villagers press for compensation
Just when Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd (BCMCL) was dreaming about making profit for the first time, its coal production became uncertain due to resistance against mining by villagers and retrenchment of at least 800 miners yesterday. While villagers stopped the company from mining coal from a new area since February 18 demanding compensation for loss of arable land, the mine’s Chinese operator CMC-XMC yesterday served notice to retrench 800 miners. The CMC-XMC paid the miners and told them not to attend work from today. This prompted miners to protest and bring out a procession inside the mine against the CMC-XMC decision. Later, the BCMCL authorities quelled the agitating miners and requested CMC-XMC to extend their deadline for resuming coal mining to Sunday. Sources said CMC-XMC agreed with BCMCL. The CMC-XMC had given a deadline that expired yesterday to BCMCL to resume coal extraction.
While the company incurred a loss of Tk 156 crore between 2005 and 2008 due to poor coal production and excessive production cost, its performance drastically changed from June-July last. With an increased coal production, the BCMCL sold around 1.5 lakh tonnes of coal to private buyers–mostly brick kilns–at $110 per tonne. This sale alone fetched around $16 million till February giving the company the hope of making profit. The remaining coal, more than four lakh tonnes, is being sold at $70 per tonne to the Power Development Board (PDB) to run its 250 megawatt power plant at the mine site. Now, as the mine could not continue coal production as per schedule, its Chinese operator is threatening to leave Bangladesh. The mine’s inventory now has about one lakh tonnes of coal to cater the needs of PDB’s power plant. This is not enough for the BCMCL to sell coal to the brick kilns and make enough money to pay damages to villagers.
Production in this first underground coalmine in Bangladesh is done in different parts and in different “Faces”, each of which allows extraction of a few lakh tonnes of coal. On February 18, the BCMCL finished coal extraction from Face-1104. It was preparing to begin coal production from Face-1114 from February 25. Face-1114 is close to village Jhigadari.As many parts of Kalupara and Moupukur villages have already subsided due to the mining, the villagers of Jhigadari resisted drilling of a borehole there for mining purpose. They said each time a borehole is drilled, the land around it subsided. This should not go on, they added. The villagers want the BCMCL to pay damages to villagers of Kalupara and Moupukur first. If the payment is satisfactory, then they would allow mining under Jhigadari.
This situation developed after three minister-level leaders visited Barapukuria to discuss with locals how they want the compensation. They went there following reports of large-scale land subsidence. A committee was formed with representation from villages to determine the amount of damages. The BCMCL, meanwhile, told villagers that since policymakers have already assured them of damages, it would be provided and the villagers should give the government a few months’ time. They said the locals should not resist mining work. “We told the villagers that if mining is resisted, the mine’s Chinese operators will leave. The workers will be retrenched and it will cause unrest. The mine’s structure will be damaged. The PDB will no longer be able to generate power. And eventually, the villagers will suffer tremendously during the irrigation period. The BCMCL’s financial health will also suffer and may not be able to pay the compensations,” said an official. “But the villagers are sentimental and do not want to listen to anything,” he added.
General Manager (mining) of BCMCL Md Mir Abdul Motin told The Daily Star that they formed a technical committee to resume coal production from Face-1114 without sealing off existing boreholes. They were optimistic about starting coal extraction from Sunday. Sources said the BCMCL paid Tk 24.22 lakh as food-grain damages to owners of 60.76 acres of land that subsided since 2006. BCMCL sources said a high-level meeting was held in Dhaka Tuesday. This meeting recommended paying villagers the damages and convincing them to cooperate with coal production. This decision has to be implemented quickly or it would become difficult to motivate locals to cooperate. Besides, the payment of damages required huge capital. The authorities are yet to make any assessment for damages but sources in the Barapukuria coalmine said whatever the damages are, at present the mine does not have enough money to pay the villagers without help from the government.
Source said Tuesday’s meeting was headed by Adviser to the Prime Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury. State Minister for Power and Energy Shamsul Haque, State Minister for Forest and Environment Mostafizur Rahman, Energy Secretary Mohammed Mohsin and senior officials of Barapukuria project were also present in the meeting to review the present crisis of BCMCL.At the meeting, Towfiq-e-Elahi and Shamsul Haque directed the committee, which is preparing a list of the affected villagers, to submit its report immediately, sources said. Mostafizur Rahman is scheduled to visit the coalmine site Saturday to talk with agitating villagers.
(Source: Daily Star, Friday, March 6, 2009, Report by Kongkon Karmakar, Dinajpur and Sharier Khan in Dhaka)
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[7] Govt to review draft coal policy soon
Sharier Khan
The Awami League government will soon start reviewing the draft coal policy left by the immediate past caretaker government that many people believe has become complicated, anti-investment and discouraging for development of the coal sector due to pressure from various groups.
Energy Adviser to the prime minister Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury says review of the policy will begin soon. “The government believes coal is a valuable resource that has to be extracted in consultation with all stakeholders for the betterment of the country.” The process of formulation of the policy has already seen four years’ delay, which now gives the impression that it had been a process of delaying any decision on the coal sector that might help the country, according to some Petrobangla officials and investors.
A cabinet meeting of the caretaker government in August last year reviewed the draft, but sent it back to the energy ministry along with some observations. These observations included overruling the draft’s priority on a “Grand Plan” to incorporate coal sector in the 50-year energy policy saying that since such a grand planning would require time. Meanwhile, gas production is set to decrease from 2011, and the country needs to take up measures to develop the coal sector fast.
The energy ministry held its last meeting on the draft on October 21 last year and decided to seek opinions of different ministries and authorities on the cabinet’s observations. For instance, the ministry sought the opinion of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) on whether coal can be converted to produce urea, petrochemical and petroleum. Such conversions are possible, but they are costly and non-competitive if there were regular supply of those items, sources said.
The draft policy also dictated that shares of a coal project would have to be offloaded in the local market in phases with 20 percent of the shares reserved for the affected people. The affected would however be allowed to sell their shares only to the government. Regarding this part, the ministry had sought opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Sec), which said restricting sale of the 20 percent shares of the affected people is not technically possible. Therefore, this part has been deleted.
The draft makes it mandatory for coal mining company to develop power plant. In reality, the mining company is unlikely to be the best power plant developer. So, this can be an incentive, not a binding. On rehabilitation, the policy demands returning the mined land after mining to the original owners in original state. This suggestion contradicts the land acquisition act of the country. However, the rehabilitation issue can be covered by another draft policy of the land ministry titled –Involuntary Resettlement Policy– which covers all resettlement issues, not just those related to coal mining.
The draft policy also says a committee would periodically fix royalty on coal production. Such a provision would impose uncertainty over the investment. Therefore, there should be a clear-cut range of royalty for both underground or open pit mines so that a project cost and return can be predicted.
The draft also speaks about damage of deep aquifer and environment of mining areas. The environment ministry should conduct impact assessment, the energy ministry said.
A new organisation styled after Petrobangla –Khani Bangla– (Mine Bangla) would be developed to spearhead coal sector investment. Till this organ is created, the mines and minerals division of Petrobangla would oversee such task. All decisions regarding coal sector development have apparently been shelved following the August 2006 killings in Phulbari in the wake of protests against Asia Energy’s open pit mining proposal.
As the protests organised by the national committee to protect coal, oil & gas and natural resources appeared successful, committee leaders are now regularly campaigning against any open pit mining in the country. Sources said negative campaigns are now affecting even Barapukuria underground coal mining, where workers are increasingly becoming intolerant. It has become easy to convince people about the negative impacts, as Barapukuria mine itself did not do anything to improve the quality of life there. The perception about the impact of any coal mine is also negative because Barapukuria coal mine project design totally overlooked environment, land subsidence and human settlement issues. But in reality, environment, water and land issues are gradually becoming serious issues for local villagers. Only recently, the AL government sent three minister-level leaders to these villages assuring them of compensation and rehabilitation.
Investors’ perspective:
According to some private energy investors, the government should consider some measures to ensure participation of competent investors in coal sector development that would need billions of dollars. “The draft is not at all investment friendly. It only says what the investor has to do, not what are the incentives. The investment policy for this sector should not contradict the Board of Investment’s Policy,” says a coal sector expert.
A Bangladeshi energy sector investor, requesting anonymity, says, “In selecting a private company to work independently or jointly with the government, the government should see proven track record in coal exploration, resource delineation and mine development; proven track record of production over a period of time; an exemplary track record in health, safety, environment and community performance; proven ability to manage infrastructure development and proven marketing performance. “To attract companies, there should be a clear and transparent process on engagement; the government must provide a security of tenure; a clear, transparent and internationally competitive investment agreement; ensure a clear understanding of domestic supply obligations and pricing; give a clear picture on local partnership and the obligations of all parties,” he said.
(Source: Daily Star, Wednesday, February 25, 2009)
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[] Mindless tourism puts St Martin’s at risk
Overcrowding of people in St Martin’s Island and mindless tourism are posing threat to environment of the coral island in Teknaf upazila.Six ships have been ferrying around 7,000 tourists a day from Teknaf to St Martin’s Island for the last several weeks while 1500 more come by trawlers. The heavy rush is seriously disturbing the natural entity of the island, said an official at the local office of the Department of Environment (DoE). Failing to get accommodation in any of 23 hotels, motels and bungalows on the island, many tourists spend nights in the union parishad building and educational institutions, said St Martin’s union parishad Chairman Feroz Ahmed Khan. “Presence of a large number of tourists is adding to the crisis of underground water and garbage management and sewerage disposal problems. Bio-diversity and their habitat are also under threat,” Aminul Haque, environment official at Teknaf, said. He said at least four of the six ships carrying tourists do not have bins and there is no proper system to remove garbage littered up by these ships after their departure. Tourists and ship staff often throw away huge amount of garbage into the sea and Naf River, polluting the water. The government should intervene to control the number of ships and tourists, he said. Some tourists take away items from the coast, adding to the vulnerability of the island, said an official. DoE sources said Teknaf upazila authorities earlier sent several letters to the authorities of St Martin’s bound ships requesting them to ensure proper management of garbage but to no effect. Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tofael Ahmed told this correspondent that different steps are being taken to protect bio-diversity and very existence of the island. Drives will be conducted to control movement of tourists on the beach at night, stop making loud noise and prevent carrying excess tourists by the ships.As the ships carry much more passengers than capacity many have to stand on the roof, deck or railing risking life, said several tourists. Three of the ships even do not carry life jackets for safety, they alleged.From December last year six ships — Keari Sindabad, St Kutubdia, Eagle, Sea Truck, Rangabali and Riggs Cross — are plying the route. Last year per head fare for about 30-kilometre sea journey from Teknaf to St Martin’s was Tk 300 to 420 but it has been raised by 20 to 23 per cent this year. Manager of St Kutubdia, Russel Ahmed, however, said, “We are running the ships following rules. We do not do anything that damages environment. We have adequate number of life jackets and litter bins in our ship. Publicity is conducted on board the ship to make tourists aware about risks and environment.”
(Source: Daily Star, Tuesday, March 3, 2009)
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Illegal polybag factory unearthed Our Correspondent, PabnaA team of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and district administration officials on Tuesday unearthed an illegal polythene bag factory at Modha Aronkola in Ishwardi upazila town. During the drive a large quantity of polythene, raw materials and machineries worth about Tk 20 lakh was seized. Four workers of the factory was held but the owner of the factory managed to flee. The Additional District Magistrate (ADM) who led the team later ordered to seal off the factory and file a case with Ishwardi police station
(Source: Daily Star, Thursday, March 5, 2009)
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[] Electric 3-wheelers still ply without legality
Around a thousand electric three-wheelers are plying streets of Dhaka without registration or permission since authorities concerned are yet to set any rules for them. A year has gone by since these vehicles were introduced. There is confusion about who is supposed to deal with the vehicles –Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) or Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) — while the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1983, does not say which category the vehicle should be in.
The three-wheelers that resemble Mishuks are powered by rechargeable batteries. As they are eco-friendly, cheap to buy and run, sales of the three-wheelers picked up despite confusion over its legal status. Many drivers of the vehicles also do not have any sort of licence.
Rafiqul Islam, director (engineering) of BRTA said, “We have authority over all motorised vehicles on land but this particular three-wheeler type is neither completely motorised nor non-motorised. The Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1983, has no specific definition or clause regarding electric vehicles. “We fix registration fees or road taxes depending on the vehicles category. Without defining its type we cannot do anything,” he added.
The electric three-wheelers are popularly known as Borak, E-Bike, Easy Bike, City Bike, etc. It is also being called China Rickshaw. The vehicles are now being used in 17 districts. Municipality offices outside Dhaka are providing registration for the vehicles and licences to drivers. The ones in the capital are running without any documentation. According to assemblers of the vehicles, there are roughly 5,000 electric three-wheelers in the country. There is no official estimate.
Meanwhile, the DCC, responsible for licensing non-motorised vehicles in the city is considering replacing human-powered rickshaws with the electric three-wheelers. A committee comprising officials of BRTA, Roads and Highways Department and the DCC has been set up to examine its feasibility. Head of the committee BM Enamul Haque, general manager (transport) of the DCC, said, “These vehicles can provide employment to a lot of people. A proposal has been sent to the LGED [Local Government Engineering Department] in this regard. Discussions will start soon.” The official also said a letter was sent to the department of mechanical engineering of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology asking it to identify the vehicle’s category.
After a four-hour recharge from a regular power outlet at homes, the vehicles get a range of up to 120km and tops out at 40km per hour. They come with an automatic gearbox. An electric three-wheeler with four rechargeable batteries cost Tk 1.4 lakh while ones with three batteries cost Tk 1.25 lakh. Six companies are locally assembling the three-wheelers with parts imported from China. Drivers of the vehicles say that the three-wheelers consume electricity worth around Tk 20 a day. However, they charge passengers nearly one-and-a-half times more than the human-powered rickshaws. A large chunk of the electric vehicles is being assembled at Bangladesh Diesel Plant Ltd (BDPL) in Gazipur which is a military franchise. Originally, the project belonged to Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation, an autonomous body of the Ministry of Industries, but it was shut down in 2002 after around a Tk 75-crore loss. It was handed over to the BDPL in May, 2007. Md Al-Amin, president of the recently formed Dhaka District Battery-Operated Three-Wheeler Owners’ Association, said, “When it was sold at first we were under the impression that electric vehicles do not require registration. Now we are being harassed by the police every day. We contacted officials of BRTA and DCC but they are yet to give us any solution.”
(Source: Daily Star, Saturday, March 7, 2009, Report by Shahnaz Parveen)
