Dhaka: The National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports on Monday vowed to wage a tough movement after Eid against setting up of Rampal power plant near the Sundarbans.

A united movement has to be launched to resist the government move to ‘destroy’ the Sundarbans, Committee member secretary Professor Anu Mohammad told a rally in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka.

Criticising Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s call to have trust in her to protect the world’s largest mangrove forest, he questioned how people could trust her when the government has miserably failed to protect the Buriganga River which is not far away from the Bangladesh Secretariat.

‘How could we trust you when the Buriganga is dying in front of you?  How could you protect the Sundarbans which is 400 km away from the capital?’ he said.

He said it is unfortunate that the ministers and other officials of the government have taken a firm decision that they would not understand anything about the Sundarbans even though all logics were placed before them.

Anu Mohammad alleged that a large number of private business establishments are being set up around the Sundarbans following the government move for the Rampal power plant.

Urging people to strengthen the united movement against the government’s activities for destroying the Sundarbans, the National Committee leader said the government will be forced to scrap the plant deals through the tougher movement after Eid-ul-Azha.

He demanded formulation of a national policy to protect the Sundarbans.

After the meeting, a procession was brought out by National Committee which paraded different roads in Topkhana and Paltan areas in Dhaka.