The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The Army Headquarters yesterday denied involvement of the army with Phulbari Coal Mine as reported in a section of the press.

The attention of army headquarters has been drawn to a news report published in a number of Bangla and English dailies on May 5 involving Phulbari Coal Mine and members of the army, an Inter- Service Public Relations (ISPR) press release.

It was mentioned in the report that several army personnel in uniform asked the local people if they were ready to leave the area in exchange for compensation. The report also said the army is being used in the interest of foreign companies.

Clarifying the actual situation, the ISPR release said a trainee officer under National Defense College was doing a research in the area and his subject was 'Evaluation of Phulbari Deal: Search for Policy Option."

The officer prepared 14 questions and conducted a survey on 25 to 30 local people. The officer took help of the local army camp in this regard.

Besides these questions and research work, the army has no other link or involvement with Phulbari Coal Mine, the ISPR release said.