Banshkhali power plant workers were shot dead by fellow workers and outsiders, police claim
Bashankhali police have also filed a case against the workers for killing their colleagues
Police have claimed that 'workers along with outsiders shot and killed the workers' during the clash at the Gandamara coal-fired power plant in Chattogram's Banshkhali upazila that left five of them dead.
Bashankhali police have also filed a case against the workers on allegation of killing their colleagues.
Mohammad Rasheduzzaman Beg, in-charge of Gandamara police outpost, filed a case against 2,500 unnamed people following the incident.
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According to the case statement, workers launched an attack on police and Chinese workers at a power plant. Later, agitating workers fired at the police from Bangla Living (Workers accommodation inside the plant under construction). At that time, the police fired on the agitators to protect the lives of the Chinese workers and property of the power plant.
However, no Chinese workers were injured in the attack or no cops sustained bullet injuries; No weapons were recovered from the spot.
Banshkhali Police Station OC Shafiul Kabir said, "Three policemen were injured and no Chinese workers sustained injuries in the attack."
Professor Anwarul Haque, head of Surgery department of Chattogram Medical College Hospital, on the day of the incident, said all of the workers brought here sustained bullet injuries. However, the policemen were injured by brick chips.
According to the case statement, workers had been staging demonstrations to press their 9-point demand including reduction of working hours and payment of their due arrears and allowances before the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.
However, the workers claimed that the police shot and killed the unarmed workers without any provocation while they were protesting to realise their just demand.
Zahidul Islam, Rigerman at the power plant, alleged, "The police shot and killed my colleagues. The police themselves set fire on a car inside the power plant that deteriorated the situation. "
According to the case statement, no senior police officer was present at the time of the shooting. The firing took place as per directions of Sub-Inspector Mohammad Rasheduzzaman Beg, in-charge of Gandamara police outpost.
Rasheduzzaman Beg could not be reached for comment despite multiple attempts.
Besides, Farooq Ahmed, chief coordinator of SS Power Plant, filed a case against 1,040 unidentified persons, including 22 named.
