At least 25 leaders and activists of Gonotantrik Bam Morcha, including its coordinator Saiful Haque, were injured when police charged baton on them during their road march at Manikganj.

The morcha started off towards the Sundarbans from Dhaka demanding a stop to the construction of the coal-based thermal power plant at Rampal which they say would damage the world's largest mangrove forest.

Leaders of the morcha said the protesters reached Manikganj around 2:30pm and gathered at Manikganj Shahid Swarani around 4:00pm. They faced the baton charge around 4:30pm when they brought out a procession from there.

Moshrefa Mishu, Gonotantrik Boplobi Party's general secretary, was treated at Manikganj Sadar Hospital. The other injured include Saiful, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal's Central Committee member Shudhangsha Chakrabarty, and Bonni Shikha and Toma.

Police charge batons, one even threatens with a gun, on the road march to the Sundarbans from the capital demanding a stop to the construction of Rampal Power Plant. Photo: Star

Manikganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Aminur Rahman said the morcha had no permission to hold a programme. Police asked them to stop the programme and intercepted it as they "violated rules", he said.

Gono Sanghati Andolon's Manikganj unit President Monjurul Islam Babu claimed that police attacked the peaceful procession and 25 activists were injured.

There was no coordination between the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police,both of whom had been informed, he alleged.

Saiful said the dignity of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's "Champions of the Earth"award lost dignity for the attack. The agitators left Manikganj around 5:30pm.

Activists have a standoff with police after the law enforcers attacked the procession. Photo: Star

Gonotantrik Bam Morcha, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers' Party, Gonotantrik Biplobi Party, United Communist League, Sramik-Krishak Samajbadi Dal, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Andolon, Gono Sanghati Andolon and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) brought out a march on way to the Sundarbans.

Earlier, the morcha leaders held in a rally in front of the capital's Jatiya Press Club.