The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Coal Policy Review Committee is likely to invite legal experts from Law Ministry to hear their opinions on coal royalty issue.

Despite holding its 17th meeting on Friday, the Coal Policy Review Committee could not settle the royalty issue as it is in dilemma with it.

The meeting, presided over by its Chairman Prof Abdul Matin Patwari, heard from a legal expert of Petrobangla about the present status and bindings of different agreements, particularly the ones signed about Barapukuria and Phulbari coal mines.

Barrister Abdullah Al Manum, a lawyer of Petrobangla, gave clarification of different agreements and their bindings.

He said though the Barapukuria coal mine project signed agreement on 20 percent royalty, it has been paying the government 5 percent royalty.

He said no violation of the government's rule took place in the case of Barapukuria because the agreement self-incorporated the government rules and the government reduced the royalty rate to 5 percent from earlier 20 percent.

After hearing the statement of the lawyer, the committee members said they should invite legal expert from Law Ministry to hear the ministry's view.

Earlier last week, the committee heard the statement of Barapukuria Coal Mine's managing director Mohammad Aziz Khan who said the Barapukuria mine project would face a financial disaster if the royalty is set at more than 5 percent.

He urged the committee to keep Barapukuria coal mine project aside from any possible change in the royalty rate to avoid the future impact.

The meeting was attended by Prof Mustafizur Rahman of CPD, Prof Badrul Imam of Dhaka University, journalist Ataus Samad, Major General Ismail Faruque Chowdhury from the Army Headquarters and IIFC chief executive Nazrul Islam.