Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, has clarified his personal stance on the long-debated Phulbari coal mine issue following public discussion over his recent social media post. In a Facebook statement on December 7, Alam emphasized the importance of constructive criticism and democratic debate, distancing his personal views from any official government position. He reiterated his condemnation of the 2006 Phulbari killings, recalling his role as an AFP correspondent who first reported the incident internationally. Alam explained that his recent reflections stemmed from 16 months of experience within the interim government, noting Bangladesh’s energy security challenges and dependence on costly LNG imports after the Ukraine war. He argued that not developing major coal reserves such as Phulbari, Dighipara, and Jamalganj was a strategic mistake, though he acknowledged flaws in past agreements. While welcoming thoughtful criticism from academics and analysts, he reaffirmed that his comments were personal and not indicative of any government initiative to revive the project. His remarks have reignited debate over Bangladesh’s energy policy, balancing environmental concerns, economic realities, and the country’s development priorities.
গঠনমূলক সমালোচনার গুরুত্ব তুলে ধরে ব্যক্তিগত মতামত প্রকাশের প্রেক্ষিতে ফুলবাড়ী কয়লাখনি ইস্যুতে নিজের অবস্থান পরিষ্কার করেছেন প্রধান উপদেষ্টার প্রেস সচিব শফিকুল আলম। রোববার (৭ ডিসেম্বর) তার ভেরিফায়েড ফেসবুক আইডির এক পোস্টে তিনি এ কথা বলেন। তিনি বলেন
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