Banshkhali Power Plant Workers: Stop their harassment

Some 63 prominent citizens of the country urged the government to take steps to stop the harassment of the workers of the Banshkhali coal-fired power plant in connection with the incident in which six workers were killed in police firing on April 17 this year.

The joint statement was signed by advocate Sultana Kamal, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Khushi Kabir, Dr Hossain Zilllur Rahman, Badiul Alam Majumder, Prof Anu Mohammad, Syed Iftekharuzzaman, Syeda Rezwana Hasan and Dr Shahidul Alam, among others.

The statement alleged that the police, instead of conducting an impartial and independent inquiry to the incident, arrested Engineer Shahnewaj Chowdhury from Gandamara area of Banshkhali on May 27 for his post on Facebook.

As a result, it said, nobody will dare to speak against any corruption and irregularities of the coal-fired power project.

Through this Facebook post, Shahnewaj expressed his own opinion and urged the youths to play a role against the illegal activities and corruption which should not be deemed as a move to create anarchy or stability, said the statement.

It mentioned a High Court bench on May 4 has ordered the authorities concerned to pay condensation of Tk 5 lakh to each of the victims and provide security and protection to the workers, families and locals of the Banshkhali power plant and not to harass them anyway.