Finance and Planning Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam on April 2 said difference in opinions has become a major obstacle to exploration of natural resources and their exploitation for generating power.

“Bangladesh is a country where difference in opinions is widespread. Some quarters are now opposing offshore exploration, and exploitation of coal on environmental grounds,” he said while speaking at the launching programme of Business Directory of International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICCB) at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

Referring to the power crisis in the country, the finance adviser said if they (those opposing exploitation of coal) are so concerned about environment pollution, they should live in caves where there is no pollution.

There was no new power generation in the last six to seven years, but the present government has initiated the rental power purchase scheme, which is expected to add some power to the national grid soon, he added.