Tengratila people start fresh agitation

They will observe a token hunger strike at the main gate of the gas field from 8 AM to 4 PM today and submit a memorandum to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer tomorrow.

Another 3-day programme will be announced tomorrow, said leaders of Tengratila Dabi Aday Sangram Parishad which is organising the agitation.

Azimuddin Master, convener of the Parishad chaired the rally

The speakers said, the Canadian company is trying to avoid payment of compensation to the people affected by the blowouts during drilling, which damaged the ecology and croplands in the area.

They said they will continue the agitation till their demands are met.

The 6-point demand includes payment of Tk 84 crore in compensation for environmental loss, compensation to the 611 families, employment for locals in the gas field, establishment of a gas based 50 MW power plant near Tengratila, arrangement of supply of safe drinking water in the affected villages and establishment of a health complex in the area.

The affected people around Tengratila Gas Field in Sunamganj did not get the compensation even a year after the second blowout and fire that took place in the field on the night of June 24 last year.