Workers stand in front of a check post as their colleagues set fire to a pile of discarded goods at a majority Chinese-funded power plant during a clash with police in Chittagong’s Banshkhali sub-district in southeastern Bangladesh, April 17, 2021. BenarNews
A Bangladesh court Tuesday ordered a conglomerate to compensate relatives of seven workers gunned down by police during a labor protest at its majority Chinese-funded power plant last month, amid calls for a transparent and swift investigation into the incident.
The Bangladesh High Court also ordered two investigative committees to submit their reports within 45 days on the April 17 incident, which began as a protest by employees against pay and working conditions at the plant in the southeast and disintegrated into violence.
Staff Correspondent,
bdnews24.com
Published: 25 Apr 2021 05:47 PM BdST
Updated: 25 Apr 2021 05:47 PM BdST
The writ petition over a clash between police and workers at a power plant in Chattogram’s Banshkhali is slated to be heard on Monday. );
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The petitioners have appealed for Tk 2 million in compensation for the families of each worker killed in the clash.
A virtual High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir will hear the case.
Supreme Court lawyer Syeda Nasrin filed the writ petition on behalf of human rights organisation Ain O Salis Kendra on Thursday.
“We mentioned the petition to the court today, and the court scheduled the hearing for Monday,” she said.
Banshkhali power plant killings: Writ petition seeks HC order for judicial enquiry Star Digital Report Star Digital Report
Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a leading rights organisation, yesterday filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking its directive on the authorities concerned to conduct a judicial enquiry into the killings of workers at SS Power I Plant at Chattogram s Banshkhali upazila on April 17.
In the petition, the organisation requested the HC to order the authorities to take appropriate legal action against those who were involved in killing and injuring the workers.
ASK also requested the HC for its directive on the authorities to give Tk 3 crore in compensation to the families of the workers who were killed, and Tk 2 crore compensation to families of the injured.
Police Firing at Protesters: Quest for better conditions met with bullets
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Workers of SS Power I Plant in Chattogram said long-simmering discontent over hygienic and accommodation conditions, lack of pay hikes and payment of arrears led to Saturday s protests which left five people killed and dozens of workers with bullet injuries.
Local representatives and police, however, claimed that some locals played a role in instigating workers to take part in the clash, a claim also backed by some workers at the plant located in Banshkhali upazila.
This correspondent visited the plant after the clash on Saturday and saw the shed where workers stay was unhealthy and crammed and the toilets used by workers so unhygienic that it would be hard to expect anyone to use them. The drain adjacent to their accommodation was seen overflowing with human waste and emitting a rancid smell.