Banshkhali power plant killings: SS Power I Ltd says it gave Tk 5 lakh to each deceased’s family

SS Power I Limited, a concern of S Alam Group, at Banshkhali in Chattogram, has provided Tk 5 lakh to each of the families of the seven victims killed in police firing on April 17 this year.

The company informed the HC bench led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim of this through submitting an affidavit few weeks back, its lawyer Mohammad Arshadur Rouf told The Daily Star today.

The lawyer said SS Power I Limited has given the money in compliance with a directive issued by the HC on May 4.

SS Power I Limited has also given Tk 50,000 to each of the 16 victims, who were injured in the incident, for treatment, he said, adding that Tk 2.5 lakh has been given to a severely injured victim for better treatment.

Lawyer Arshadur said the HC is yet to fix any date for hearing the issue.

Deputy Attorney General Bipul Bagmar assigned to the HC bench led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim told this correspondent that he did not know whether SS Power I Limited has submitted any compliance report to the bench.

He, however, said the state has earlier taken time from the HC bench for submitting the probe reports of the committees led by the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Chattogram as the inquiries are going on.

During hearing two separate writ petitions, the HC bench, on May 4, directed SS Power I Limited to immediately give Tk 5 lakh initially to each of the families of the dead victims.

Seven workers of the SS Power I Limited, an under-construction coal-fired power plant, were killed and at least 21 were injured during a clash with police in Banshkhali on April 17.