AE: CPB denounces ADB lobbying

[Dhaka Correspondent] Communist Party of Bangladesh Friday termed “unwarranted” the lobbying by ADB (Asian Development Bank) pushing the interim government for awarding the Phulbari coal project to UK-based Asia Energy.

“The nation has rejected the proposal of Asia Energy [to develop Phulbari coal field]. The people of Phulbary won a six-point agreement, including expulsion of Asia Energy, at the cost of blood,” said CPB president Manjurul Ahsan Khan and general secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim in a joint statement. They said that only an elected parliament could make a decision on the proposal of Asia Energy after taking public opinion as the matter was related with the constitution and would be a major policy decision.

CPB leaders said that it was true that the delay in making a decision on the issue was sending a wrong signal, “It is easy to overcome the situation by taking steps in line with the Phulbari agreement and by handing over power to an elected government. The question of examining the Asia Energy’s deal with the government and starting negotiation afresh does not arise at all.”

They also called upon all to be “beware” of the “over-enthusiasm” on the part of some quarters over the investment proposal of Indian Tata group.