'Realise money from US co, allow BAPEX a greater role'
Speakers at Magurchhara Day programmes demand
Our correspondent, Moulvibazar
The Magurchhera Day was observed in Moulvibazar on Tuesday with a demand for realisation of compensation from the US oil company responsible for the massive explosion that destroyed the ecology and environment in vast areas there.At different programmes marking the day, speakers including political leaders from Dhaka also demanded of the government to allow BAPEX (Bangladesh Patrolium Exploration Company) to explore hydrocarbon in the area instead of a US company. The main programmes were organised by the Moulivibazar district unit of the National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas Wealth, Electricity and Port. On the night of June 14, 1997, a massive explosion took place at Magurchhera gas field under Block 14, located in Kamalgonj upazila when US company Occidental was drilling a well. The huge blaze damaged property worth Tk 13826 crore including gas, forest resources, tea gardens, railway installation, roads and habitats of Khasia tribesmen. The US company Occidental was blamed for this devastation, but compensation for the damage is yet to be realised from the company seven years after the incident. The government appointed another US company-- Unocal-- to explore gas in the same field. The National Committee held two meetings at Moulvibazar pourasava auditorium and at Srimongol. The Moulvibazar meeting was addressed by, among others, CPB President Monjurul Ahsan Khan and party leader Syed Abu Zafar Ahmed; Engineer Shahidullah, Convenor of trhe National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas Wealth, Electricity and Port; Al-Haj Abdus Samad, president of Gono Azadi League; Bazlur Rashid Firoze of BSD (Khaleque); AFM Mahbubul Haque, Convenor of BSD (Mahbub); Hazera Sultana, central committee member of Rorkers Party; Abdus Salam, president of Gonotantrik Mojdur Party, Prof Dr Shamsul Alam of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology; Prof Dr Ahmed Husain of Dhaka University, engineer Golam Kibria of Biswa Shahittya Kendra, Dhaka and Abu Naser Khan of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolone, Dhaka. Advocate Pijush Kanti Sen was in the chair. The speakers also urged the local people to take up agitation programmes to realise the compensation and assured them of all support. The Sreemongal meeting was presided over by Syed Ameeruzzaman. During a recent visit to the area, many affected people while talking to this correspondent expressed surprise why the compensation could not be realised in seven years. They also criticised the government for allowing another US company to drill well in the area while compensation from a US company could not be realised.
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