Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said the government may consider extracting high-quality coal from Phulbari in Dinajpur to help meet the country’s energy needs and save foreign currency, but any decision would priorities the resettlement and livelihoods of affected communities.
Responding to a supplementary question from lawmaker Sabikun Nahar in Parliament recently, the prime minister said Phulbari coal is among the best-quality coal in the world and could benefit the country if it helps address the energy crisis.
He acknowledged that open-pit mining could affect agricultural land and settlements and said the government would first assess how affected people could be properly resettled without disrupting their livelihoods. Local communities should also benefit if the project is eventually implemented, he added.
Tarique Rahman said environmental concerns would receive due importance before any decision is taken.
