PANCHAGARH, July 19: People at Tentulia Upazila formed a human chain on Saturday afternoon, demanding reopening of the long-abandoned Shalbahan oil mine.
The human chain was organized by the Tentulia Conscious Citizens Committee at the Tentulia intersection, drawing participation from teachers, students, and members of civil society.
The event was presided over by the organization's convener, Advocate Monowar Hossain Hanif. Among the speakers were trainee lawyer Rasedul Karim, Journalist Abdul Baset, Sarkar Haider, and Sohrab Hossain.
They called for an official investigation into the unexplained closure of the oil project, which they claim has remained shrouded in secrecy for over three decades.
According to the speakers, the Shalbahan oil mine was identified through an earthquake survey in 1987, with formal drilling inaugurated on May 10, 1988, by then-president HM Ershad.
A French company named Frasal (also referred to as Fostal) was appointed for the extraction, with operations planned at a depth of 8,000 feet. Reports at the time, including those by the BBC and other international media, stated that over one billion taka was spent on the initiative.
However, within just a week of inauguration, the project was abruptly halted, and the foreign company withdrew overnight. No official explanation was ever given.
The speakers alleged that Frasal later began similar operations across the border in Jamadar Para Village under Raiganj Police Station in India's Jalpaiguri District, suggesting a possible transfer of interest.
They expressed concerns that India may now be secretly extracting oil from the extended reserves, possibly influencing the abandonment of the Bangladeshi side of the mine.
The speakers urged the government to re-investigate the matter and resume oil extraction at Shalbahan. They warned of launching a broader movement if no concrete steps are taken.
Following the human chain, participants held a protest rally that marched through the main roads of Tentulia before concluding at the Tentultala intersection.
