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Coal production yet to restart

Mine operator's ultimatum expires today

Our Correspondent, Dmajpur
Resumption of production at Barapukunacoal mine remains uncertain as the latest effons of Forest and Environment State Minister Mostafizur Rahman Fizar failed to resolve the issues of compensation to landslide victims and retrenchment of Bangladeshi miners of Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd (BCMCL).
Villagers affected by landslide at and around the mining site resisted drilling of boreholes for production of coal from “1114 Face" on February 25 causing suspension of production, BCMCL sources said.
The crisis deepened as Bangladeshi miners Friday night called an indefinite abstention from work protesting their retrenchment without
prior notice, defying the state minister's directive to resume coal production from today.
BCMCL sources said the agitating miners however agreed to join work at 11:00pm yesterday following hectic negotiations with the . authorities yesterday evening.
But coal production would not resume today as the authorities are yet undecided over compensation to land subsidence victims, who resisted digging of boreholes.
Meanwhile, the ultimatum of mine operation contractor CMC-XMC for resumption of coal production expires today.
The agitating miners alleged that the state minister did not pay heed to their demands at the negotiation held at BCMCL rest house Friday evening.FROM PAGE 16
And without resolving their demands, he switched the buttons on to restart coal pro duction Friday night, the miners said at a rally in the mine area yesterday.
Protesting the state minister's action, the 821 Bangladeshi miners did not join their work and demonstrated outside the mine to realise their two-point demand including unconditional apology from CMC-XMC and payment of three days' wages, which were deducted, said Rabiul Islam, convener of BCMCL Miners Association.
On Thursday, CMC-XMC retrenched 800 Bangladeshi miners without prior notice, sparking protest from them. But at the meeting on Friday, the minister and CMC-XMC agreed on reinstating the miners with three days' wage-cut..
Considering Tk.3 crore losses a day due to production suspension and CMC-XMC's ultimatum, the BCMCL authorities urged the striking miners to join their work for coal production from today.
BCMCL sources quoting the technical committee said they are looking for ways to resume coal production without sealing off the boreholes at Jhigagari village surface points of 1114 coal phase as villagers resisted sealing off those in presence of the state minister on Friday.
Contacted, Samad Master, leader of the landslide victims, said the state minister is visiting the BCMCL area looking for a solution to the crisis.
At a meeting, they placed a 9-point demand to the minister that include stopping open pit mining.
"We want compensation to the landslide victims in the area and effective measures to prevent land subsidence in fiurtue," he added.
At Jhigagari village, people said the minister along with BCMCL high-ups came to the village on Friday) for sealing off the boreholes but they resisted it.
"We want our compensation before sealing off the boreholes and resuming coal production. We have no enmity with BCMCL" said Belal Hossain, a villager.
The minister urged them to be patient and sought time for meeting their demands, he said.