Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh, environmentalists have urged the prime ministers of the two countries to take steps for cancelling the "controversial” Rampal power plant project.

At a discussion marking the World Environment Day 2015 yesterday, speakers alleged that the project to be implemented jointly by Bangladesh and India was posing a threat to the environment of Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) organised the programme at Mukti Bhaban in the capital.

Bapa General Secretary Abdul Matin said the environment of the Sundarbans was under threat due to several "anti-environment" projects, including the one to construct the Rampal power plant, surrounding the forest.

Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kari, an NGO, said, "The Rampal project can never be acceptable as it will affect the entire country, not just the Sundarbans. ”

Mujahidul Islam Selim, president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, alleged that attempts were being made to implement the project after providing people with "misinformation" on the issue. "The interest of people and the Sundarbans cannot be harmed in the name of development," he said.

Prof Anu Muhammad of lahangirnagar University said," In every research it has been proved that implementation of the Rampal project would lead to an environmental and humanitarian crisis in the Southwest region.

"I hope the prime ministers of both the countries [Bangladesh and India] would agree on cancelling the Rampal power plant [project] to save the environment of the region and announce their decision to cancel the project now," he said.

According to experts, the l,320MW coal-fired plant's construction in Bagerhat would turn out to be catastrophic for the ecological balance of the forest and leave people there vulnerable to natural disasters.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Dhaka on a two-day visit today.