The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The National Committee for Preservation of Oil-Gas-Energy Resource and Seaport yesterday urged the government not to sign export oriented energy agreement with multinational national company and reform the coal policy to safeguard the interest of foreign company.

The committee organised a protest meeting in the city's Muktangan demanding stoppage of the move of the caretaker government to lease nine oil-gas blocks in the country's sea areas based on Model PSC and reform the latest coal policy submitted by Abdul Matin Patwari.

The committee leaders said the caretaker government was going to sign an export-oriented agreement with Asia Energy to lease nine oil-gas blocks and reform the latest coal policy with a view to protect the interest of the Asia Energy.

"Any energy export oriented agreement by the caretaker government and reform of the coal policy will be unconstitutional and illegal, as an un-elected government has no mandate to sign such agreement and reform the coal policy," said chief of the committee Engr Sheikh Shahidullah.

Economist Anu Mohammad, environmentalist Abu Naser and Dr Shamsul Alam, among others, addressed the meeting.