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Outsiders 'instigating' unrest at Barapukuria

KONGKON KARMAKER, Dinajpur
A cloud of uncertainty is gathering over the Tk 1,600 crore Barapukuria coalmine as increasing interference by groups outside the mine is triggering unrest among workers, officials claim.
They said several stints of workers' strike and violent protests to realise irrational demands have already inflicted a loss ofTk 10 crore on the mine during 2008-2009 fiscal year.
According to official sources, the coal extraction cost of the mine increased about 30 percent as miners instigated by outsiders realised their demands through several protests. Those demands include doubling and tripling the daily wages.
The costly coal project of Petrobangla at Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur ushers in hope for the nation in the energy sector as domestic gas production is gradually diminishing which eventually might hamper power generation. "But if such political interferences and external disturbances are not stopped immediately then the mine will be destroyed," said a high official of Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd (BCMCL).
The BCMCL sources identify three factors that are hindering the congenial atmosphere of the BCMCL area. These are: influence of external pressure groups, the Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) and the Underground Bangladeshi Miners Association.
Sources said coal extraction depends entirely on miners but now the miners take all steps under the influence of Nuruzzaman, a local leader of a group. Nuruzzaman played a key role in the 2006 Phulbari unrest.
They alleged that Nuruzzaman is using Bangladeshi miners to gain popularity. He is now planning to run for mayor in Phulbari this year.
On the surface it seems the protests are staged by the mine's CBA led by Abul Kashem. Mohsin Ali allegedly controls biddings at the project site and is at) Awami l eague leader of Phulbari. He reportedly manipulates tenders using his political influences. Sources allege that he never allows others to tender bids.
The external pressure groups started campaigning among the miners about three years ago. Now mine officials feel that miners, like in many other trade-union dominated government organisations, do not care about authorities or the institution they work for.
"About 800 miners' behaviour toward BCMCL officials have become reckless ever since they formed BCMCL Miners Rights Protection Committee in the name of protecting their rights," said a BCMCL source.
According to the locals and BCMCL official sources, a few Bangladeshi miners including Rabiul Islam Rabi and Nur Islam are steering the unity of the miners in the name of BCMCL Miners Rights Protection Committee. Nuruzzaman is the adviser and he spearheads any movements for the cause of miners and villagers, they alleged.
At least 15 villagers around the BCMCL project area have been mobilised to realise the compensation for land subsidencevictims, they added.
Nuruzzaman said if the BCMCL does not pay proper damages to victims of land subsidence then there will be a movement. He said coal pro-duction increased as Bangladeshi miners became united and formed the miners association.
On May 5, the underground miners went on a rampage demanding arrears fortnreemonths.
A BCMCL official seeking anonymity said, If investors are harassed by such trade union activities, then foreign investment to the country will be under threat."