Dhaka: Renewing the committee's vow to continue its movement against Rampal power plant, leaders of National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas-Mineral Resources and Power Port on Monday said the power plant project will impede Bangladesh's relations with neighbouring India once it is implemented.

‘Actually, Rampal project will cause a permanent damage to Bangladesh-India relations and even it may lead to a long-term rivalry with the neighbour,’ said Anu Mohammad, the member secretary of the national committee, while addressing a press conference at Mukti Bhaban in Dhaka, reports UNB.

The press conference was arranged to explain the National Committee's position on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's blame for damaging Bangladesh-India relations with an anti-Rampal movement.

Anu Mohammad said it is not the agitating people, but surely the government will cause harm to the relations with India through implementing Rampal project.

He, however, rejected any idea of launching ‘united movement’ with the BNP on the issue of Rampal power plant.

‘It's looking good the BNP finally feels the necessity of National Committee's demand. BNP had also undertaken many anti-people projects when it was in power. ‘

He said if the BNP wants to join the National Committee's anti-Rampal movement, it will have to overhaul its entire political policy.

The project will bring immense sufferings to the UNESCO-declared world heritage site and its ecology and this will trigger anger among the local people, said Anu Mohammad.

Responding to a question, Anu Mohammad said the National Committee is ready to sit with the Prime Minister on the issue if the government assures reconsidering its decision on Rampal. ‘We want to sit with the Prime Minister to reach a point to save the Sundarbans,’ he said.

National Committee convener Engineer Sheikh Muhammad Shahidullah, committee leaders Saiful Haque, Ruhin Hossain Price and Bazlur Rashid Fereoz, were, among others, present at the press conference.