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Dhaka, Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Working Group on Environment and Development (BWGED), alongside We CAN Cox’s Bazar and other environmental organizations, has submitted an open letter to the government demanding the cancellation of the land lease for Orion Power Unit-2’s proposed 635 MW Coal-fired power plant in Dhaka.
In the letter, BWGED highlights the detrimental long-term impacts of this coal-based project on the environment and public life in the Matarbari area. BWGED submitted the appeal to Md. Nazmul Haque, Managing Director (Additional Charge), Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL), with carbon copies to the Honorable Advisors of the People's Republic of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Land, Ministry of Power, Energy, and Ministry of Mineral Resources, and Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, and Chairman of CPGCBL’s Board of Directors.
In his remarks, BWGED Member Secretary Hasan Mehedi emphasized, “Coal projects impose heavy financial and environmental costs, deepening national debt while undermining sustainable progress. Redirecting funds to renewable energy is essential, offering a far healthier path for both public welfare and ecological integrity.”
BWGED underscores that implementing this coal power project will result in emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), Sulfur Oxides (SOx), and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), which would pollute local air and water, negatively impacting biodiversity and human health. The letter further notes that ongoing development projects have already posed significant risks to forests, fish resources, and migratory birds in the coastal areas, and the proposed coal project would exacerbate these risks. Article 18 (A) of the Bangladesh Constitution mandates state responsibility for environmental protection, making this project contradictory to that responsibility.
Bangladesh had committed to reducing coal dependency and increasing investments in renewable energy at the COP26 Summit in 2021. This proposed project would breach those commitments, obstructing the country’s Zero Carbon emissions target and violating the Paris Agreement.
BWGED emphasizes the importance of sustainable and eco-friendly approaches to meet the nation’s energy needs. They are hopeful that the government and responsible departments will take proactive steps to protect the fundamental rights of local residents and preserve the environment, which will be essential in safeguarding lives and ecosystems.
See The Press Release