An MP from Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, has spoken out strongly in favour of coal extraction regardless of any environmental damage it may cause.
The senior leader also criticised those protesting coal extraction, especially through open-pit method, and said extraction was necessary to boost power generation.
Asia Energy, owned by London-based GCM Resources, wants to construct an open-pit mine at Phulbari in the north west of the country, against strong opposition from local people. The project would displace around 150,000 people, according to the Government’s own estimates.
See http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=165087&cid=2.