Banshkhali power plant killings: Writ petition seeks judicial enquiry, suspension of construction work

Another writ petition was filed with the High Court today seeking necessary directives in connection with the incidents of killing and injuring workers of the SS Power I Plant in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram between 2016 and April 17 this year.

Five rights organisations collectively submitted the petition as a public interest litigation, seeking HC order on the authorities to conduct a judicial inquiry into the incidents and to stop construction of the coal-fired SS Power I Plant till completion of the inquiry.

The petitioner organisations are -- Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela); Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (Blast); Nijera Kori (NK); Safety and Rights Society; and Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD).

In the petition, the organisations sought HC directive on the labour ministry to submit a report on the environment and the protection and safety and security of the workers of the power plant to the court.

They also requested the HC to direct the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Chattogram to submit their inquiry reports on the incidents to this court.

Petitioners' lawyer and chief executive of Bela, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, told The Daily Star that the five organisations in their petition urged the HC to issue a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why appropriate legal action should not be taken against the people responsible for killing and injuring the workers.

Lawyer Rizwana Hasan said a total of 12 workers were killed and several were injured in different incidents at the power plant in Banshkhali in 2016, 2017 and April 17, 2021.

The HC has been requested to ask the authorities to show causes why they should not be directed to pay compensation to the families of the victims of police firing and why the agreement concerned for constructing the SS Power I Plant in Banshkhali should not be cancelled as there is no need for this power plant, lawyer Syeda Rizwana Hasan said.

The lawyer said the HC may hold hearing simultaneously on both the writ petitions over the incident of killing and injuring workers at the power plant, as Ain O Salish Kendra filed another writ petition with this court earlier in connection with the April 17 incident in Banshkhali power plant.

Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a leading rights organisation, filed a writ petition with the HC on April 21, seeking its directive on the authorities concerned to conduct a judicial inquiry over the incidents.

Five workers of the SS Power I Plant, a joint venture involving S Alam Group, were killed and at least 21 were injured during a clash with police in Banshkhali on April 17.

The workers alleged that the law enforcers opened fire on their peaceful demonstration demanding arrears and pay hikes. They said they were supposed to get arrears of one to three months.