The commerce ministry, in a press release, said on Tuesday that the high-sulphur coal could be imported considering its demand for the sake of the country's economic development and conserving environmental balance as far as possible until June 30, 2011.
'Over one percent sulphur-mixed coal' is banned in the current Import Policy-2009-12 and Import Policy-2006-9.
The government was forced to take the decision in the face of persistent demand from the businessmen, a ministry official told bdnews24.com. He also said that the permission for importation of such amount of Sulphur-mixed coal ended on June 30, this year.
Reacting to the government move, Save the Environment Movement chairman Abu Naser Khan told bdnews24.com: "Such coal is very harmful to the environment. The permission must be cancelled."
Over one percent sulphur-mixed coal is used in brick fields, which seriously affects surrounding crops, trees and fishes in the ponds and other water bodies, he said.
Most 'Over one percent sulphur-mixed coal' is imported through Sylhet border from Meghalaya state in India.
Sylhet Coal Importers' Group general secretary Falah Uddin Ali, however, supported the government move, telling bdnews24.com, "We must import coal to meet our energy crisis."
Ali said around 0.8 to 0.85 million tonnes of coal are imported through Sylhet border every year. In addition, around 0.2 mln tonnes of coal are imported through Burimari and other borders.
Not a significant amount of coal is imported through China, he said.
The commerce ministry's statement said the Department of Environment will initiate to inform 'over one per cent sulphur-mixed coal users' of advanced methods and technology to keep the pollution at minimum level.
In addition, the National Board of Revenue will be requested to impose more tax on those coal users who use backward technology, the statement.
It further said that Bangladesh mainly imports coal from Meghalaya, West Bengal and Bihar State. The coal of Meghalaya contains over one percent sulphur. Better coal can also be imported from Indonesia and China other than India, but importers don't import from those countries because of its high cost.
Imported coals are used in brickfields, tea gardens, and small mills and factories.