The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power, and Ports from rallies in different parts of the country on Wednesday called on the government to scrap the deals inked with ConocoPhillips for exploration and extraction of gas of offshore blocks 10 and 11.
The agreements were signed according to the Model Production and Sharing Contract-2008, with a provision for exporting 80 per cent of the extracted gas by the US oil company, the committee leaders said.
The committee on Wednesday also launched a four-day countrywide mass-contact campaign to drum up support for its seven-point set of demands.
The committee leaders, divided into five teams, started the campaign after holding a rally in front of the National Press Club.
The mass-contact programme will increase awareness of the people about the importance of safeguarding the country's natural resources from the hands of plunders, the committee convener, Sheikh Muhammad Shaheedullah, told a rally at Narsingdi.
The first team, heading for Sunamganj, will hold rallies and roadside meetings on the way.
Committee leaders Nurul Hasan, Syed Abu Zafar Ahmed, and Bazlur Rashid Firoz, among others, are in the first team.
The second team, led by member secretary of the organisation Anu Muhammad and committee leaders Abdus Satter, Asaduzzaman Khan Masum, and Firoz Ahmed, started for Potuakhali.
The third team, which was moving along the Dhaka-Mongla Highway, included Jahangirnagr University teacher Nasim Akter Hossain, Razequzzaman Ratan, Sazzad Zahir Chandan, and Babul Biswas, among others.
The fourth team, led by Shubhrangshu Chakrabarty, is headed for Cox's Bazar. The other members of the team include committee leaders Enamul Haque, Tipu Biswas, Ruhin Hossain Prince, Quamrul Ahsan, and Abul Hasan Rubel.
The fifth team, with Rangpur as its destination, included Nur Mohammad, Anisur Rahman Mollick, Saiful Huq, and Zonayed Saki, among others.
The teams will also hold rallies on the way today.
Source : New Age
