“We don’t want the coal mine” is a film on the social movement against the establishment of an open pit coal mine in Northwest of Bangladesh. To establish the mine at least ten thousand hectare arable land is intended to be destroyed and more than five hundred thousand people to be displaced. Four sub-districts of Dinajpur, namely Phulbari, Birampur, Nawabganj and Parbatipur are under the project. However, the film is based on a one year long anthropological research which focused only on the protesters of Phulbari subdistrict. The aim of the research was to understand the motivation of the protesters to join the social movement against the establishment of an open cut coal mine in their vicinity. It was found that the fear of displacement from their secure sociality, home, land and limited economic and political opportunity for the majority of the population motivated the Phulbarians to join the social movement. Moreover, previous experience of displacement and violence, history of betrayal of the ruling sector of the society and a belief that one has the duty to change the society played an important role in the decision making of the protesters. Findings of the research are presented in the film.
Dedicated to loving memories of Nayan
Thanks to
People of Phulbari
Friends of the central and Phulbari committee of National committee to protect oil-gas-mineral resources, power and port
Mosammat Masuda and her family
Nazma Akhter Duli
Afsana Tori
Miraz Munabbir
Saidur Rahman Sohel
Shahriar Sunny
Afreen Monsur
Mizanur Rahman
Advisors
Anu Muhammad
Rahnuma Ahmed
Shameem Akhter
Tanveer Zahid Nayan
Shameema Binte Rahman
A K M Zakaria
Barkatullah Maruf
Moushumi Sharmin Moumita
Camera
Ajharul Haq
Camera Assistant
Sohel
Aminur
Edit
Rabeya Sarkar Rima
Syfur Rahman Rubel
Shopna Akhter
Technical Support
Future Vision
Drik audio visual
Aura studio recording and production
Sound arrangement, edit and music
Shourav Mansur
Instruments
Badar bhai
Sharif Zindami
Arif
Songs
Ki jadoo korila – Alam Khan
Ei muhurte- Moheener ghoraguli
26 e August dekhi mayer chokje jal- Khademul Islam
Still Photographs
Rawyan Shayema
Graphics
A K M Zobayed Hossain
Title Animation
Lutful Alam
Direction assistant and Production management
Anha F Khan
Mahmud Hasan Babu
Research, narration and direction
Nasrin Siraj Annie
Producer
Serajul Islam and Momotaz Begum
