Published on 05:19 PM, October 20, 2015

Rampal ‘road march’: Bam Morcha for judicial probe into attack

Police charged batons on the road march of Gonotantrik Bam Morcha, protesting a government move to build a power plant at Rampal, putting the largest mangrove forest of the world in danger of pollution. Photo: STAR FILE

Ganatantrik Bam Morcha today demanded judicial probe into the attack on their “road march” to the Sundarbans against Rampal power plant.

“We demand judicial probe into the attack of police and ruling party men on our activists,” said Syful Haque, coordinator of the Bam Morcha.

The attack exposed government’s undemocratic and autocratic attitude, he told reporters in a press conference at Comrade Nirmal Sen Auditorium in Dhaka.

At least 40 leaders and activists of the platform, an alliance of left-leaning groups, were injured when their “road march” was thwarted by police several times last week.

They started their march from Dhaka in a bid to force a stop to the Rampal power plant project, what they say will cause serious harm to the Sundarbans.

They (government) are talking about democracy but in reality they practice the policy of repression,” said Saiful, also general secretary of Biplobi Workers Party.

The government is going ahead with the Rampal power plant project despite opposition from several national and international organisations, including the UNESCO.

Bam Morcha alleged that the project has only been undertaken to “please India”.