District Representative , Dinajpur, Published: 26 August 2025
Today, August 26, is Phulbari Tragedy Day. On this day in 2006, three people were killed and over a hundred injured in a shootout with law enforcement officers in Phulbari, Dinajpur, while protesting against Asia Energy. Since then, the day has been observed every year as 'Phulbari Tragedy Day'.
In 1994, the then government signed a coal mine agreement with Australian company BHP. Later, in 2005, extraction from the Barapukuria coal mine began using the soft or tunnel method. At the same time, the government signed a 30-year agreement with the British-owned company Asia Energy. According to that agreement, Bangladesh would get only 6 percent of the extracted coal, while Asia Energy would get 94 percent, of which 80 percent would be exported.
The 'Phulbari Raksha Committee' launched a movement, saying that the proposed project would threaten agriculture, the environment and human settlements. On August 26, 2006, leaders of the National Oil-Gas-Mineral Resources and Power-Port Protection Committee held a meeting at Nimtala in Phulbari. After the rally, the angry crowd went to surround the Asia Energy office when the then BDR opened fire. Three people were killed and more than two hundred people were injured.
Following the incident, the protesters presented a six-point demand, including the expulsion of Asia Energy and a ban on open-pit coal mining in the country. The northern region erupted in nationwide strikes and protests.
To mark the day, the National Committee for Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port Protection will hold various programs like every year.
On Tuesday (August 26) at 9 am, a rally, procession and tributes will be paid at the memorial pillar of the victims at Nimtala in Phulbari. They have also announced various programs, including a rally at all Shaheed Minars in the country, including the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka at 10:30 am.
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