The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The government is not formulating coal policy keeping the interest of any particular company or individual in mind, said Power and Mineral Resources Adviser Tapan Chowdhury yesterday.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a seminar on "Greater Rangpur and Development of the Northern Region: Energy Context" at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city.

With Greater Rangpur Welfare Association president Nazrul Islam in the chair, the seminar was also addressed by Finance and Planning Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam.

The seminar was organised by Greater Rangpur Kallyan Samity and Rangpur, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Tapan Chowdhury said the coal policy was being formulated keeping the national interest in mind. "It's undesirable to question our patriotism regarding the coal policy. We're not doing anything else which proves that we don't have any patriotism. Please don't question our patriotism. Rather, question about something else," he said.

The Energy Adviser said a neutral committee was formed to formulate the coal policy. "I had no consultation with none of the committee members. The experts had formulated their recommendations independently. I hope that the national interest will be protected through implementing these recommendations," he said.

It may be recalled that the committee finalised its recommendations on Thursday.

The recommendations include local people must be compensated for extracting coal from the designated coalmines. The coal which will be extracted cannot be exported. As many as 25 per cent of the shares of the mining company will have to floated in the capital markets.