May 11, 2025
| Shahedullah Kaisar
Locals of Matabari have expressed their deep concern about 2nd Coal Power Plant, and said, no more coal power plant is needed in their villages. They also urged the interim government for cancelling Proposed 635 mega watt coal-fired power plant implemented by Orion group in Matarbari, Cox's Bazar.
Locals expressed their opinion when talking to a public hearing jointly organized by Bangladesh working group on ecology and development (BWGED) and the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), in collaboration with Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), JET-NetBD, Forum for ecology and development (FED), Maheshkhali Jonoshurokkha Moncho, and Songshoptaque to demand the cancellation of Orion Group's proposed 635 MW coal-fired power plant. The hearing was scheduled at Matarbari K.G School on Saturday
(10 May) morning. The Public hearing was presided over by Professor dr. Khalid Misbahuzzaman, from the Department of Environmental science at Chattogram University.
Advocate Rabeya Sultana, Journo Nizam uddin, academics Md. Nurun Nabi, and MUP Md. Alauddin were also included in the panel. Approximately 300 local residents, including farmers, fisherfolk, salt producers, and shrimp cultivators, joined in the hearing. During the hearing, residents shared personal experiences and voiced grave concerns regarding the coal power plant's potential impacts.
They warned that implementation of the proposed plant would be resulted in severe environmental degradation across Matarbari and its surrounding areas, threatening the lives and livelihoods of thousands, particularly fishers, salt farmers, agricultural workers, and day laborers.
They Said it during the early stages of the project, around 225 acres of land had already been acquired, displacing numerous families and uprooting them from their ancestral homes. Residents now face an acute shortage of safe drinking water and suffer from increased air pollution, skin diseases, and respiratory complications. Many expressed that conditions have deteriorated to the point where they may be forced to abandon their community altogether.
News Link: No more Coal Power Plant