Yesterday at least four people were gunned down and killed as they gathered to protest construction of a coal plant in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Sadly this isn’t the first time that people have been killed in Bangladesh protesting coal. In 2006, three people were killed protesting the Phulbari Coal project. These deaths didn’t have to happen. But because government enables coal industries to take land and build polluting coal projects where they are not wanted, violent conflict continues. In fact, Bangladesh is now a world leader in fatalities at coal protests.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), a national network of groups working to protect the country’s environment, including Waterkeepers Bangladesh, issued this press release condemning the police for opening fire on protestors and shooting to kill. The enormous tragedy is that while other world leaders are closing coal mines and shutting down coal-fired power stations, the Bangladeshi government is continuing to pursue ultra expensive polluting coal projects. If the billions of dollars in coal investment had been constructively channeled into investment in solar energy, there would be at least 7 Bangladeshis in Phulbari and Chittagong that would be still alive today. Government needs to embrace a clean energy future that enhances its citizens’ lives… not take them.