Environmental activists and local residents urged authorities concerned to scrap a proposed waste-to-energy power plant at Aminbazar on the outskirt of the Dhaka city, citing health risks, high costs and environment pollution.
On the second day of a series of protests held on Monday in Aminbazar, speakers warned that the planned 42.5-megawatt facility would expose millions of residents to long-term health hazards while compelling the government to expensive electricity purchases for decades.
The Dhaka North waste-based plant is backed by China Machinery Engineering Corporation, a subsidiary of Sinomach, and is designed as a 25-year independent power producer under agreements signed with Bangladeshi authorities in 2021.
The project would require at least 3,000 tonnes of municipal waste a day to operate.
Protesters said Dhaka lacks proper waste segregation at source, undermining the feasibility of safe and efficient power generation.
Dhaka north city generates around 3,500 tonnes of waste daily, but only about 700 tonnes are combustible, they said, raising doubts over fuel availability and increasing the risk of higher emissions.
