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Over a dozen injured workers were rushed to different hospitals
At least five people were shot dead and dozens injured, as workers clashed with police at an under-construction power plant owned by the S Alam Group and China-based SEPCO3, at Banshkhali in Chattogram on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Shuvo (23), Rahat (24), Ahmad Reza (19), Raihan (17), and Rony Hossain (22).
Talking about the incident to The Business Standard, Banshkhali Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Azizul Islam, said the workers were staging a protest with several demands, including raising wages, reducing work hours, and alleged discrimination.
"On information from the plant authorities, police rushed to the spot to control the situation. When the demonstrators became violent, police opened fire to bring the situation under control," he added.
After the incident, the district administration and police have formed two separate investigation committees. Financial assistance has also been announced for the families of the deceased and those who have been injured in the clashes.
"A four-member investigation committee has been formed in light of the Bashkhali incident. The committee has been directed to submit the report within seven days," said Chattogram Additional District Magistrate Sumoni Akhter.
"Besides, at a district administration meeting, it was announced to provide Tk3 lakh for the families of the deceased and Tk50,000 to the injured," she added.
About the investigation committee formed by the police, Chattogram Range DIG Anowar Hossain said, "Police have formed a three-member investigation committee who have been instructed to submit a report within seven days.
About the injured in the clash, Upazila Health Officer Dr Shafiur Rahman Mozumder, said, "Four workers hit by bullets were brought dead to the Upazila Health Complex and twelve more people were referred to different hospitals."
"More than 19 people were taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital in critical condition with bullet wounds. One of them died here," said Jahir Uddin Bhuiyan, inspector of CMCH police outpost.
Mohammad Faruk, brother of worker Morshed hit by a bullet, said, "Workers protested demanding reduction of work hours today. If their demands were undue, authorities could sack them. Police should not have fired the shots following orders from influential people."
"There was unrest among the workers for a long time over wages, work hours, and torture. Police opened fire during a clash with workers today," said DIG Anwar Hossain.
The power plant 'SS Power I Limited' is a 2.5-billion-dollar 1,200-megawatt coal power plant of which 30% is owned by Chinese engineering giant SEPCOIII, financed by the Bank of China.
"The problem was with the Chinese company and the workers are working under Chinese contractors. S Alam Group is not involved with clashes. The Chinese company has an investment in the plant," said Akis Uddin, secretary to S Alam Group Managing Director Masud Alam.
Contacted, S Alam Group Executive Director Subrata Kumar Bhowmick said, "The project started with 70% investment from us and 30% from the Chinese. Around 40% of the construction has been completed. Some 3,000 workers are working on the project."
Earlier in 2016, at least four persons were killed and nearly three dozen people were injured in another clash between law enforcement and locals over the coal-based power plant sponsored by the S Alam Group. One more was killed in 2017.
Rights activists say the Power plant does not meet environmental impact standards and was built without public consultation.
Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP) has condemned the police attack and demanded compensation for the dead and treatment cost for the injured. Issuing a joint statement, SKOP leaders also demanded a judicial inquiry into today's incident and demanded punishment for those responsible.
Civil society demands justice
Later on Saturday, 68 members of the civil society signed a statement condemning the attack on the coal plant workers, terming the incident heinous and a disgrace to democratic society.
The statement said firing at workers who were just demanding proper payment is against the rule of law. The signatories said that the ruthlessness shown by the police during Saturday's incident demonstrates gross abuse of power and extreme lawlessness.
The statement said that according to the constitution and law of Bangladesh, the police cannot shoot at innocent workers under any circumstances.
According to the provisions of Police Regulations 1943, if a gathering cannot be broken up in any way, police can use minimal force as a last resort. In that case, multiple warnings must be issued before firing a shot and the shots cannot be aimed at anyone to kill but only to break up the gathering.
The signatories called for an impartial judicial inquiry into the killings and shootings and demanded exemplary punishment for the policemen involved.
They also demanded that the agreement reached between the government and the S Alam Group for the construction of the coal-fired power plant be cancelled on grounds of negligence by the company in paying wages to workers.
The statement was signed by Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, founder and trustee of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Sultana Kamal, executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, chairperson of Brac, Ali Imam Majumder, former cabinet secretary, Khushi Kabir, coordinator, Nijera Kori, Shahidul Alam, photojournalist, Shireen Huq, co-founder of Naripokkho, and several others.
Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha president Habibullah Bachchu and general secretary Chowdhury Ashikul Alam demanded punishment to police members and others involved in the killing of workers. They demanded compensation for the families of the workers who were killed and treatment of those wounded in the police firing. The labour leaders in a statement yesterday demanded that the licence of the power plant be scrapped.
Source: https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/2-killed-many-injured-clash-over-banshkhali-power-plant-ctg-232807
