Mongla, Nov 20 (V7N) – Environmental activists in Bangladesh have warned that the rapid expansion of fossil gas extraction is undermining global climate goals and urged world leaders to adopt renewable energy as the only just transition pathway.

Speakers at a river rally on the Pashur River in Mongla have said that the current rate of global fossil gas extraction poses a serious threat to achieving international climate targets. They stressed that the fast-growing energy demand in the Global South, driven by rapid economic expansion, cannot be met by expanding fossil gas use. Instead, governments must choose renewable energy as part of a fair and equitable transition.

The rally, held on Wednesday morning, was organized as part of a global day of action calling for an immediate end to fossil gas expansion. The Bangladesh chapter of the movement included rallies on nine rivers, including the Pashur River. The event was jointly organized by the national environmental group Dhora (Dharthree Rokkhay Amra), Waterkeepers Bangladesh, and Pashur River Waterkeeper.

The rally’s opening ceremony was presided over by Mohammad Nur Alam Sheikh, environmental activist and Pashur River Waterkeeper, who also delivered the keynote address. Other speakers included Abdus Rashid Hawlader, general secretary of the Mongla Upazila Fishermen’s Association; sports organizer Mohammad Selim Hawlader; BD Clean representative Abu Hasan; environmental and development worker Fatema Jannat; women’s leader Masuda Parvin; Pashur River Waterkeeper volunteer Maruf Billah; environmental campaigner Hasib Sardar; youth leaders Sheikh Sifatulloh Shuvo, Moin Gazi, Dollar Molla, and Mehedi Hasan.

In his speech, Nur Alam Sheikh called on government and private donors to immediately stop financing the expansion of fossil gas. He said that fossil gas can never be considered a just or sustainable alternative to coal or oil. Citing global production trends, he noted that the United States is the world’s largest producer of natural gas, followed by China, Russia, Iran, Canada, and Qatar. Addressing these major producers, he said, “Stop gas and LNG. We need renewable energy.”

Youth leader Mehedi Hasan said that energy demand outside industrialized countries is expected to rise by 85 percent, and the Global North is promoting fossil gas as a fallback option to meet that demand. “We want to send a clear message to the Global North: don’t gas the South,” he said. Sports organizer Selim Hawlader added that a fair green energy transition is urgently needed, and now is the time to invest in renewable energy.

Environmental and development worker Fatema Jannat highlighted alarming global trends: Africa, Latin America, and Asia collectively have 768 gas-fired power plants in the pre-construction phase, 153 proposed LNG terminals, 300 pipeline construction projects, and 284 newly discovered gas fields under development. She warned that such massive expansion puts the world’s green future and climate goals at severe risk.

The rally in Mongla was part of a coordinated series of actions across Asia, Africa, and Latin America opposing fossil gas expansion and calling for climate-aligned policies consistent with the Paris Agreement.

END/AHS/SMA/