Protection committee to sit in talks on condition

Star file photoStar Online Report

Leaders of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports today said they would sit with the government, if any formal invitation comes from it to hold talks on leasing out three offshore gas fields to two foreign companies.
The leaders of the committee also announced fresh agitation programmes including demonstrating black flags in front of Petrobangla on September 24 in protest against the government's decision on the offshore gas fields.
Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, convenor of the protection committee, announced the programme at a press conference today at Mukti Bhaban in the capital's Purana Paltan area.
Earlier, the government awarded Ireland-based company Tullow Bangladesh shallow water block SS-08-05 and US oil company Conoco Phillips South Asia New Ventures Ltd deep sea blocks DS-08-10 and 11 in the Bay of Bengal for oil and gas exploration.
On September 14, the committee announced to hold a national conference on October 16 in the capital.
Prior to it, the committee also hold conferences in divisional cities-- on October 3 in Khulna, October 5 in Barisal, October 7 in Chittagong, October 10 in Rajshahi and October 13 in Sylhet.
Earlier, on September 14 the committee enforced a half-day hartal in Dhaka to press home their demands.
After the hartal, they gave an ultimatum to the government until Oct 15 to meet their five-point demands including cancellation of the deals which they claimed gave the two companies the right to export 80 percent of any gas extracted from the fields.