Protest against conspiracy to shut down RNPP

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :

A protest and human chain were held in Ishwardi in protest of the conspiracy to shut down the project by creating chaos by some officers and employees working at NPBCL in the name of demanding demands. On Thursday, a protest and human chain was held under the banner of the conscious civil society Ishwardi in the Presskab and Fakirer Battala areas of the city. Thousands of women and men from various professional, social and cultural organizations including the Industrial and Merchant Association of Ishwardi, Rickshaw Drivers’ Cooperative Association, Literary-Culture Council participated in the protest and human chain. It was conducted by Ohiduzzaman Tipu leader of the conscious civil society and Literary Culture Council.
In a written statement, S.M. Fazlur Rahman, a leader of the conscious civil society and general secretary of the Ishwardi Press Club, said, “Due to the chaos created in the project area in the name of demanding justice, uncertainty has arisen regarding the supply of electricity to the national grid after the project is launched. That is why I am forced to take to the streets today to stand against the conspiracy to stop the project, which has been the long-awaited dream of the people of Ishwardi.”
He also said that at this moment, 94 percent of the work has been completed.
The work on the grid’s transmission line is expected to be completed this month. Then, the startup is expected to take place in December. In this situation, the incident of creating chaos by protesting and assembling in the project area is an ominous sign.
He said that during the previous fascist Awami League government, about 2,000 officers and employees were appointed in NPBCL. Despite having the qualifications, no one from BNP or the opposition was allowed to be appointed or join. He demanded a proper investigation into the matter and identification of those who are allies of the fascists.
The written statement further said, “We believe that the project workers may have demands related to their jobs. But the agitators’ stubborn behavior makes it seem like they have taken to the field to put the government in trouble in a planned manner. There is an opportunity to present the rationale of their demands to the higher authorities through a systematic process. Despite the assurance of taking action on the demands, they have done this despicable act in the name of the movement.”
In the name of movement to achieve demands, some officials and employees are pushing Bangladesh and this project towards an unstable situation in the world court. It is demanded that this incident be properly investigated, those who are disrupting the security of the Rooppur project and creating chaos be identified and brought to justice.
Anwar Hossain Joni, vice-president and former councilor of the Industrial and Commercial Association, said that the arrival of foreigners including Russians around the Rooppur project has brought about a huge change in the socio-economic sector of Ishwardi. Local business and trade have expanded and the project has become financially self-sufficient with about 25,000 domestic workers working in it. The interim government has taken steps to immediately open an airport in Ishwardi around the Rooppur project. In this situation, if the project is closed, Ishwardi’s economy will be threatened and the airport will no longer be operational.
Press Club President Azizur Rahman Shaheen said, “As an internationally sensitive and important facility, the Rooppur project is under the constant surveillance of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The protests and rallies at the nuclear power project are unprecedented in the world. By breaking the security conditions in the project area and holding processions and rallies, the protesters not only acted extremely irresponsibly, but also threatened the progress of the project and the next stage of obtaining the IAEA license.”
Other speakers included Ahsan Habib, the central leader of the Nationalist Workers’ Party, Ashikur Rahman Nannu, the president of the Ishwardi Industrial and Merchants’ Association, S Alamgir, the general secretary of the Sahitya Sanskriti Parishad, Mostaq Ahmed Kiran, the director of the development organization New Era Foundation, BNP leader Rafiqul Islam Nayan, prominent businessman Abu Sayeed Liton, Pakshi businessman Shamsujoha Pippu, Aminul Islam Swapan, Moniruzzaman Tutul, women leader Sathi Khatun, the leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Ibrahim Hossain, and others.