United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka

The proposed coal-based Rampal power plant in Bagerhat will destroy the unique ecosystem and biodiversity of the Sundarban, said Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon president Mujaffar Ahmed on Wednesday.

‘The development works that destroy the unique ecosystem of the Sundarban is not development … I do hesitate to call it development,’ he told the inaugural session of a report launching ceremony and a panel discussion at BIAM auditorium in the city.

Centre for Science and Environment of India, and Coastal Development Partnership jointly organised the function and the discussion tilted ‘Bangladesh, India and climate change: sharing experiences and evidence from the Sundarbans.’

Senior fellow of climate change group at the International Institute for Environment and Development Dr Saleemul Huq, CSE deputy director Chandra Bhushan and CDP executive director S Jahangir Hasan Masum also spoke at the function held with Jahangirnagar University assistant professor Sharmind Neelormi in the chair.

Speaking as the chief guest, Mujaffar Ahmed said the biodiversity of the Sundarban is unique, but unplanned human actions have changed it.

The flora-fauna, biodiversity and natural resources are being destroyed due to aggressive human activities and the growing pressure of population, he said.

The Bapa president said the socio-economic pressures are changing the environment in the Sundarbans, resulting in multifaceted impacts on the lives and livelihood of people and other biological phenomena.

‘The economic development has failed to preserve the ecosystem of the Sundarban…. It’s a storehouse of natural resources, you can get economic benefits without destroying it,’ he said.