The government would fulfil the conditions set by Unesco for implementing the Rampal power plant project near the Sundarbans, two ministers told The Daily Star yesterday.
Unesco retreated from its earlier position that the plant cannot be built at Rampal and gave Bangladesh some conditions regarding its construction, said State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Bipu.
“We will meet the conditions,” he told this correspondent.
When asked about those, he said Unesco urged the Bangladesh delegation at the ongoing 41st session of its World Heritage Committee in Poland to carry out Strategic Environmental Assessment of the country's south-western region including the Sundarbans.
“We will do so,” he said, adding that the government would complete it by December next year.
Contacted, Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju said they would be able to do the assessment within the timeframe set by Unesco. They would start the task once the officials of the ministry, now attending the session in Poland, return home.
About the withdrawal of Unesco's objection, he said the “positive outcome” came following “hectic consultations” between Unesco officials and the high-powered Bangladesh delegation.
Earlier, Nasrul told reporters at his Gulshan residence that the Bangladesh delegation at the conference pointed out various technological aspects of the power plant.
It also gave details of the plant's impact on environment and made the Unesco understand that environmental safety has been given the utmost priority in setting up the plant and that there would be no negative impact on the Sundarbans, said the minister.
Bangladesh answered different queries from Unesco officials at the conference and assured them that it would meet the Unesco's conditions in setting up the plant, he added.