Bangladesh: 4 killed in clash over setting up power plant, company denies involvement
In December 2013, S Alam Group, struck an agreement with SEPCO3 Electric Power Construction Corporation of China to set up a coal-fired power plant in Banshkhali, Bangladesh. SS Power-I Ltd and SS Power-II Ltd -- both joint ventures of S Alam Group and SEPCO3 Electric Power and HTG of China will set up the power plant by November 2019. The project will require an investment of $2.4 billion of which $1.75 billion will come from Chinese lenders. On 4 April, two rival groups announced that they would hold rallies at the same venue in the afternoon -- one in support of installation of a power plant by S Alam Group and the other against it. At least four persons were killed and 30 others injured in the clash between law enforcers and locals in Banshkhali upazila of Chittagong over installation of a coal-based power plant. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited S Alam Group, SEPCOⅢ & HTG to respond, response from S Alam Group responded,SEPCOⅢ could not be reached for comment, and HTG did not respond.
In Feb 2017, violent protests broke out again, as villagers reportedly feared evictions, the disturbing of family graveyards and damage to the environment. At least one person was killed and about a dozen were injured.