BNP yesterday called upon the government to implement the Rampal power plant project anywhere else for the sake of the Sundarbans, a world heritage site declared by the Unesco.

BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon made the call at a press briefing in the party's Nayapaltan central office.

“Of course, we need electricity, and there are many options for power generation. But there is no alternative to the Sundarbans. The coal-based power plant will put a serious impact on the forest,” said Ripon, also the party's international affairs secretary.

The government signed agreements with two companies for the construction of the Rampal power plant, he said.

The BNP leader claimed that as per the deals, Bangladesh would get only 13 percent of power to be produced from the plant, and “it in no way goes in favour of the country.”

He also alleged that the government was not moving away from its decision to construct the plant in Rampal despite concern by different local and international environmental organisations.

Replying to a question, Ripon said the BNP also wanted such project be implemented but those plants should not be set up at places like Rampal.