Barclays Faces Complaint Over Financing Linked to Coal Plant Near Sundarbans

Barclays Bank is facing a formal complaint over its financial links to a coal-fired power station situated near the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, which spans parts of Bangladesh and India and is home to millions of people, according to the Guardian.

Three complainants from the region have submitted a case to the UK government's Office for Responsible Business Conduct, alleging that the British bank breached international guidelines by underwriting companies involved in the Maitree super thermal power project, also known as the Rampal power plant, the report said.

The complainants allege that the Rampal plant's pollution and associated climate risks threaten the Sundarbans, which is designated as a Unesco World Heritage site, according to the Guardian.

The complaint centers on claims that Barclays' underwriting activities connected to the coal-fired power project failed to meet international standards for responsible business conduct, the report said.

The Guardian did not specify further details of the complaint's contents or Barclays' response in the excerpt reviewed.