Barclays Bank is facing a formal complaint regarding its financial involvement with a coal-fired power station located near the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, which spans Bangladesh and India. The complaint has been lodged with the UK government’s Office for Responsible Business Conduct by three regional complainants who allege that the bank violated international guidelines by underwriting companies associated with the Maitree super thermal power project, commonly referred to as the Rampal power plant.

The Rampal power station is situated adjacent to the Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage site that comprises over 100 small islands within a river delta, supporting a diverse range of plant and animal species, including the Bengal tiger. Environmental campaigner Sharif Jamil, one of the complainants, has raised concerns about heavy-metal pollution from the plant and surrounding industrial activities, which he claims is contaminating the Sundarbans through its interconnected rivers and canals. “The Rampal power plant is right on the bank of the Pasur River, which is the lifeline of the Sundarbans,” he stated, emphasizing the ecological risks posed to the forest.

Environmental Concerns and Health Risks

A study conducted last November revealed elevated levels of mercury and arsenic in water samples from the Sundarbans, particularly in the Pasur River. Researchers identified industrial discharge and port-related activities as significant sources of heavy-metal contamination, warning that the Rampal power station presents a considerable environmental threat due to emissions from coal combustion and increased navigation traffic.

Millions of people rely on the Sundarbans for food and resources, and the complainants argue that Barclays failed to adequately assess the environmental and human rights risks associated with financing organizations linked to the project. According to King’s Legal Clinic, which is assisting the complainants, Barclays underwrote debt for India’s state-owned NTPC Ltd, a joint-venture partner in the Rampal project, and also facilitated bond issues for the Export-Import Bank of India between 2016 and 2019, which funded the project.

Opposition and Calls for Change

The Rampal power station has faced significant opposition throughout its planning and construction phases. Concerns were raised by UNESCO in a 2016 report, which indicated that air and water pollution could irreversibly damage the World Heritage property. Some financial institutions, including banks in France, opted not to support the project due to its potential environmental and social impacts.

Jamil emphasized that Barclays, as a prominent global institution, has a responsibility to consider the implications of its financing decisions. “The greater your reputation, the greater your responsibility to behave responsibly towards the planet and its people,” he remarked. He urged banks to redirect funding towards renewable energy sources, highlighting Bangladesh’s potential for solar energy. “Why should we expand fossil fuels when there is enormous potential to produce electricity from renewable energy?” he questioned.

The other complainants include Animesh Mandal, a farmer and politician, and the Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum, a trade union representing fish workers in West Bengal. They are supported by students and lawyers from King’s Human Rights and Environment Clinic at King’s College London. Solicitor Sue Willman stated, “Rural communities in the Sundarbans are on the frontline of the climate and nature crisis. We hope to persuade banks and financial institutions to think again before financing oil and coal developments that are contributing to that crisis.”

The Office for Responsible Business Conduct will evaluate whether to take up the complaint. Both Barclays Bank and BIFPCL (Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company Ltd), the holding company for the Maitree super thermal power project, have declined to comment on the matter.

For further details, visit The Guardian.