Police firing at Banshkhali power plant: Protesters demand justice for deceased workers

Criticising the police firing on agitating workers during a protest in the coal-based power plant in Banshkhali of Chattogram yesterday, several organisations, including trade bodies and left-leaning party, today protested the killing and demanded justice for the workers, who were killed in the incident.

Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, Samajtrantik Chhatra Front, Gonotrantik Chhatra Council, Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra and Garment Workers Trade Union of Narayanganj held rallies in Narayanganj and Chattogram city today.

At the rallies, the leaders of the organisations demanded a fair probe to investigate the firing incident on workers and bring those who are responsible under the book.

The Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, Samajtrantik Chhatra Front and Gonotrantik Chhatra Council jointly held a rally in the port city's New Market area where they said that the government gives a licence to kill to police to murder students, general people, and workers if they take to the streets to press their demands.

Speakers at the rally said polluting the environment, S Alam and the Chinese company it partners are setting up a coal-based power plant in Banshkhali.

Earlier in 2016, police had opened fire on villagers who had demonstrated to save their lands protesting the project. But after five years, the incident repeated again and it was totally unacceptable, they said.

The speakers alleged that police opened fire on innocent workers who demonstrated for their rightful demands, including payment of their overdue.

Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra and Garment Workers Trade Union of Narayanganj held a rally in front of the Narayanganj press club. From the rally, the speakers said the demands of the workers are legal but without solving the demands police opened fire leaving five dead.

They demanded a fair probe into the incident and compensation for the dead and injured workers.

Bangladesh Chhatra Federation's Central Vice President Farhad Jaman Jony, Gonotrantik Chhatra Council's central Ani Chowdhury, Chhatra Front's Ripa Majumder, Rajeshar Das Gupata, Narayanganj Trade Union Kendra and Garment Workers Trade Union leaders MA Shahin, Iqbal Hossain, Dulal Shaha, Bimal Kanti Das, and others addressed the rallies.