KATHMANDU: Five people have been killed in a clash between police and workers at an under-construction power plant in Chittagong District in Bangladesh on Saturday.
According to sources, at least 25 people including four police were injured in the clash that worsened when the agitating workers set fire to the power plant.
The workers who were dissatisfied at the management’s adamant on not addressing their demands were further irate to learn that a Chinese supervisor even kicked the workers who were offering Namaz the previous day.
The workers attacked the power plant when a meeting between their leaders and the management failed to resolve the crisis. According to the eyewitnesses, the workers set a fire inside the power plant.
Chittagong Range Deputy Inspector General Anwar Hossain said that police were attacked when they tried to intervene, compelling them to open fire on the workers.
The incident took place on Saturday morning when workers initiated a protest for their demands of salary and allowances ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, police said.
“When police intervened, they were attacked. Policemen were compelled to open fire after three of them were seriously injured,” DIG Hossain said. He said fifty policemen were deployed at the power plant after the demonstrations started on Friday.
Fourteen injured workers were taken to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).
Banshkhali Police Station OC (investigation) Azizul Islam confirmed that five people died in the clash, adding that six police personnel were also injured. While four people died on the spot, one succumbed to injuries after he was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.
The power-plant is one of the largest plants in the country and was announced during Chinese President Xi Zinping’s Bangladesh visit in 2016.
(With inputs from Daily News Post)
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