Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said the people of Matarbari who have lost their lands for the power plant project there will be rehabilitated and compensated properly.
“The losers will get two or even three times higher prices of lands as compensation. The government will certainly solve the problems regarding the land compensation,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while unveiling the foundation plaque of Matarbari 1200-megawatt coal-based power plant in Maheshkhali.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the construction work through a videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban in the capital.
The ultra-super critical coal-fired power plant on 1500 acres of land at Matarbari and Dhalghata Union of Maheshkhali Upazila in Cox’s Bazar will be commissioned in 2024. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is financing the project. Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has been able to gain the power generation capacity of 16,000 megawatt now from only 3,200 megawatt in 2009, which is a big achievement for the nation.
Assuming power in 1996, she said, the Awami League government opened up the power generation for the private sector for meeting the growing demand of electricity.
Noting that any new venture in Bangladesh faces hindrance and criticism, the Prime Minister said, “When any new venture is taken in Bangladesh, it faces different types of obstruction. Various formulas come and many persons appear with various theories and speak in different types of words.”
Coming down heavily on the critics of any new venture, she said there are some people who always are upset. “When a new venture is taken, they start spreading despair saying that everything is being destroyed.”
“I’m not a pessimist. I want improved lifestyle for people,” Hasina said. About the project, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh will be benefited on completion of the plant as it will accelerate economic activities and improve the socioeconomic status of local people. About the security of foreigners who are working in Bangladesh as development partners, Hasina said the government continues its best possible efforts to ensure security for them. She urged all, including the local people, elected public representatives of Cox’s Bazar and Maheshkhali, and her party leaders and activists to take care of the security aspect of foreigners there.
Regretting over the loss of lives of some Japanese citizens in the Holey Artisan attack in the city’s Gulshan area, the Prime Minister thanked the Japanese Prime Minister and JICA for continuing their works for the development of Bangladesh after the attack. Noting that the Japanese government stood beside Bangladesh immediately after the Liberation War to develop the war-ravaged country, she thanked the Japanese government, particularly its Prime Minster, as Japan still stands beside Bangladesh for its development.
About Rohingya influx from Myanmar, Hasina said Bangladesh has given them shelter on humanitarian ground. “We’re negotiating with Myanmar for taking back them as soon as possible.”
This project comprises of construction of jetty and coal handling facilities for coal import, coal storage, power plant construction, township development, rural electrification and construction of transmission facilities and road communication. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office Md Nojibur Rahman conducted the inaugural programme, while Power Division Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus made a power-point presentation in this regard. Visiting Special Adviser to Japanese PM Kentaro Sonoura, Bangladesh PM’s adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and PM’s for International Affairs Dr Gowher Rizvi respectively, State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid, Chief Coordinator (SDGs Affairs) of the PMO Abul Kalam Azad and JICA high officials, including its headquarters Senior Vice President were present at the programme at Ganobhaban.
At the programme held at the Maheshkhali, all the four local MPs elected from Cox’s Bazar Mohammed Ellias, Asheq Ullah Rafiq, Shaimum Sarwar Kamal and Abdur Rahman Badi as well as Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Hiroyasu Izumi were present.
