A recent photo exhibition in Tokyo by Bangladeshi photographer Noor Alam shed light on the challenges faced by fishing and farming communities in the Matarbari region of southeastern Bangladesh. These communities are grappling with the loss of their land and livelihoods to coal and gas-fired power plants being established in the area. The exhibition depicted the poignant stories of individuals striving to survive in the wake of these developments.
The exhibition highlighted the plight of farmers who have been displaced from their ancestral lands to make way for a large coal power plant. These farmers now find themselves living in cramped settlements, struggling to make ends meet while lacking basic amenities for their children, such as adequate play spaces. The report underscored the harsh reality faced by thousands of betel leaf and salt farmers and fishermen who have been forcibly removed from their homes and means of living without the promised compensation, leaving them with no alternative.
Moreover, the report pointed out that despite successfully preventing the construction of a new coal-fired power station, residents in the Chattogram division of Bangladesh are being pressured by external interests to accept environmentally damaging liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plants and infrastructure. The shift towards LNG is expected to cost the Bangladeshi economy $50 billion, posing risks to the well-being of millions of citizens due to pollution and escalating climate-related disasters like floods and cyclones. As Bangladesh grapples with rising temperatures and escalating power demands, a substantial investment in the LNG industry is poised to exacerbate global warming.
Furthermore, the report suggested that redirecting the $36 billion earmarked for gas power plants towards renewable energy initiatives could position Bangladesh as a leader in clean energy. By enabling the generation of 62 Gigawatts of renewable power—more than double the country’s current electricity capacity—Bangladesh could significantly reduce its carbon footprint and environmental impact.
