Environment-unfriendly infrastructures, including a seaport and a thermal power plant, are affecting agriculture and fisheries along the climate-vulnerable coast of Bangladesh, complained Dhoritry Rokkhay Amra (DHORA) and Waterkeepers Bangladesh.
The two green groups, while hosting a discussion in Dhaka on 28 May, questioned the government’s negligence regarding the environmental impacts before implementing such projects.
At the discussion, three studies on the impacts of Payra Sea Port and Payra thermal power plant in Patuakhali on the coastal fisheries and agriculture were presented.
Waterkeeper Bangladesh researcher Iqbal Faruque said the seaport and power plant, emitting polluting gases and effluents, affected the river water quality and the Hilsa colonies.
“After launching the two projects, the growth of hilsa abundance is dwindling,” Iqbal said.
Another researcher Rafiqul Islam, citing harvest data between 2015-16 FY and 2021-22 FY, informed the audience that his study had found a decreasing trend in watermelon cultivation and production surrounding the seaport and power plant sites.
Patuakhali Science and Technology University's environmental science teacher Ashiqur Rahman said his study traced air, water and soil pollution around the two projects.
Representing voices of the grassroots, Sundarban Rokkhay Amra coordinator Noor Alam Sheikh criticised another dimension of infrastructural development.
He said, “Instead of elevating the river protection embankments, reintroduction of seasonal embankment idea (Ostomashi Bandh) and rebuilding coastal residences as flood-resilient will be sustainable.”
Green activist from Cox’s Bazar, Delwar Hossain, said some infrastructural development projects in Cox’s Bazar destroyed livelihoods of many local farmers and fishers.
Chaired by MS Siddique, non-government advisor at Bangladesh Competition Commission and co-convenor of DHORA, Archbishop of Dhaka and DHORA advisor Bejoy Nicephorus D'Cruze, former member of parliament Gloria Jharna Sirker, Brotee Samaj Kallyan Sangstha chief executive Sharmeen Murshid, among others, also spoke.
DHORA member secretary Sharif Jamil moderated the discussion.