"Fresh writ seeks judicial probe into Banshkhali killing", 28 April 2021

Another public interest litigation writ petition was filed on Wednesday seeking a judicial inquiry into the killing of seven workers of a coal-fired power plant at Banshkhali in Chattorgram on April 17 and suspension of the construction of the power plant.

The police opened fire on a demonstration of workers while they were protesting for nine demands, including payment of unpaid wages, weekly holiday and reduction of working hours.

Rights organisations Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Nijera Kori, Safety and Rights Society and Association for Land Reform and Development jintly filed the petition.

Earlier on April 22, rights body Ain o Salish Kendra filed the first writ petition seeking judicial inquiry into the same incident and prevention of arrest or harassment of workers two cases were filed against over 3,000 named and unnamed workers of the power plant of S Alam group over the April 17 clashes.

The petitioner sought a directive to the government to pay Tk 3 crore to families of each deceased worker and Tk 2 crore to the injured workers in the police shooting. [...]