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Ministerial meet on coal import Wednesday

Staff Correspondent, sylhet
An inter-ministerial meeting has been convened on July 8 to break the impasse over coal import suspension from India through land custom stations ofSylhet-Mymensingh region.
The leaders of Coal Importers' Group who have been invited to join the meeting said representatives from the commerce, finance and environment ministries will be present at the meeting in Dhaka.
Over 30.000 labourers went jobless as coal import from the Indian states of Meghalaya and Assam through the land custom stations of Sylhet and Mymensingh regions remained suspended since July 1.
Considering the environmental concerns, the government in 2001 banned import of low quality coal,
having more than 1 percent sulphur content.
But Bangladesh's brick kilns and other businesses have a huge demand for coal from the Indian state of Meghalaya that costs only $48 per tonne and has more than 1 percent sulphur content.
Besides, local Barapukuria coal costs $95 per tonne, and sq the businesses prefer Meghalayan coal despite its high sulphur content, importers said.
Such imported low-cost coal is used mainly in brick kilns in greater Sylhet region (around 85 percent) and other parts of the country. Being pressed by the businessmen, the authorities just extend the import period for 6 months twice every year as a temporary measure. June 30 was the latest deadline.
A three-member team comprising Sylhet Coal Importers' Group President
Dilwar Hossain, General Secretary Falah Uddin Ali Ahmed and Director of Sylhet Chamber met the finance minister and commerce secretary in the capital yesterday.
Director of Sylhet Chamber of Commerce & Industry and former president of Sylhet Coal Importers' Group Kolondor Ali said around 14 lakh tonnes of coal are imported every year through the four land custom stations in Sylhet region, one in Mymensingh and one in Rangpur.
The government earns around Tk 150 crore a year in revenue from coal import, he said.
In every sue months they have to face problem regarding coal import, said Ali, adding that the government gives coal import permission on a half-yearly basis. He demanded that the matter should have a permanent solution.