A 240-page compendium, “Energy Challenges and Phulbari Crisis” intended for the laity in the first place, is an outcome of SEHD’s investigation and involvement into the controversial Phulbari open-cut coalmine. The aggressive approaches of the Bangladesh government and that of an arrogant British company [Asia Energy that changed its name to Global Coal Management PLC] for an open-cutcoalminecauseduproaramong the local people in the Phulbari mine area in Dinajpur district, Northwest of Bangladesh. We are convinced that the local people in the mine area had good reasons to stand strong against the open-cut coalmine and say, “We do not want coal mine”
Edited by Philip Gain, English, PBK 242 pages, 2013, Price: Tk.300, US$15
The local people felt deceived in not being clearly told by the government and the company that an open-cut mine was being planned and they did not see pragmatic approaches for compensation and how to handle an open-cut mine in a densely populated and an agriculturally very productive area.
As time passed, in 2006, the discontent began to heighten. The day, 26 August 2006, was sort of the final day when at least fifty thousand people took to the streets of Phulbari town. The people’s demonstration with sticks and musical instruments in hand was peaceful and unprecedented. It was surprising that the security personnel, all on a sudden, began to shoot, teargas and to baton-charge the demonstrators. Three people were shot dead and many injured. This led to stronger resistance. The company officials had to leave Phulbari and the government came to an agreement with the people represented by the National Committee to Protect Oil Gas Mineral Resources Port and Power.
This was a dramatic development in the history of the resistance movement in Bangladesh. The people’s power was vividly demonstrated. In one section of this compendium, SEHD reports, relevant facts, analyses, images, Prof. Anu Muhammad’s anatomy of the people’s resistance movement, and British mine expert Roger Moody’s critique of Asia Energy’s Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Phulbari coal mine project have been put together. This section of the book helps understand the sentiment of people of Phulbari mine area and the factors that underlie the grassroots revolt.
With the Phulbari coal mine, the local communities and the whole nation is in a crisis and dilemma. In the face of many energy challenges with a very low per capita commercial energy use, the coal is an important discovery for the energy solution. Now how do we seek a balance in this situation? Contributions from some experts on energy help the laity understand energy issues and possibly help form informed opinions, very important in a country like Bangladesh.
Prof. Badrul Imam, Prof. Ijaz Hossain, and Sajed Kamal present overview and analyses on the energy status in Bangladesh, crisis and the factors behind; energy efficiency potentials in Bangladesh; and revolutionary scope of renewable energy.
A brief review of selected literature and documentary films on energy, web resources and a glossary also add value to this compendium. We trust this compendium will make people think and act prudently in dealing with energy issues.
Contributors to the Book: Prof. Badrul Imam, Prof. Ijaz Hossain, Anu Muhammad, Philip Gain, Roger Moody, Sajed Kamal, Partha Shankar Saha, Aneeka Malik, Shekhar Kanti Ray, Tania Sultana, and Ainud Sony.