Hundreds of workers and employees of Mongla Port Authority (MPA) have demanded immediate arrest of the vested quarters who have been obstructing dredging activities at the inner channel of the port to ensure continuous dredging.
They made the demand at a human chain under the banner of ‘Mongla Bondar Sramik-Kormochari Shangha’ in front of Mongla Pourasava, near the Sea Port on Monday.
Earlier, they brought out a procession that was started from Mongla Bondar Sramik-Kormochari Shangha office premises and ended in front of Mongla Pourasava, reports BSS.
Chaired by General Secretary of the sangstha Md omor Faruk Sentu, the programme was addressed, among others, by ‘Mongla Port Ghat Sramik Union leader Mostofa Kamal, Mongla Port engine run boat union leader Rezaul Karim Nannu and Lighterage Workers Union leader Md Mainul Islam Mintu.
The speakers said, a vested group in association with so called environmentalists is obstructing regular dredging works at Mongla Port inner bar channel in the name of environment protection and crops production.
Earlier, the vested quarter had create obstruction in the construction works of coal-based Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Plant at Rampal saying Sundarban, the world largest mangrove forest, will be destroyed after impletion of the project.
The Rampal Power Plant will not be harmful for environment, they said, adding that the same vested quarters are saying crops will not grow at Baniashanta and its adjacent areas after dumping sands during dredging at Pashur and adjacent rivers.
“Their conspiracy was failed after construction of Rampal Power Plant and as the part of their conspiracy; conspirators are now obstructing Mongla Port inner bar dredging works through creating false information to the land owners of the area so that the port can’t run properly.
The MPA has already handed over Tk 75.0 million to the Deputy Commissioner, Khulna, for distributing among the owners of 300 acres of land at Baniashanta area under Dakop upazila as compensation of 10 years, they said.
The vested quarters have tried to hinder the activities of Mongla Port, Rampal Power Plant, Mongla EPZ and construction of Mongla-Benapole via Khulna Railway Line in a bid to foil export-import activities to India and Bhutan and other countries through Mongla Port.
Over 9.5 meters wide ship can anchor at the outer bar as dredging has been completed from Hiron Point to Harbaria area, but it can’t enter into the Mongla port jetty due to lake of dredging at the inner bar area.