Banshkhali people set 24-hr ultimatum

Staff Correspondent, Chittagong: The residents of Gondamara union in Chittagong’s Banshkhali upazila issued a 24-hour ultimatum to cancel the coal-fired power plant project from the area.

Liakat Ali, convener of ‘Homestead and Graveyard protection committee,’ announced the ultimatum to withdraw the project within 6pm Saturday unless threatened to siege the local administration office.

 

He said protesters will siege the local administration office wearing shrouds if the project is not shut down.

 

Liaquat Ali said, "We want to inform the prime minister from the meeting that it is not political party based movement but a movement to protect our lands, the key source of our livelihood.

 

We lost four lives, is not that enough? Please try to realise the people`s demand.”

 

The ultimatum came in a mass gathering of thousands of locals mourning the deaths of four people who were shot while protesting the installation of a coal-based power plant.

 

The mourning was held at Pashchim Gondomara Government Primary School premises around 2pm on Friday, presided by Bodi Ahmed, who lost two of his brothers and his son-in-law in the protest.

 

Bodi Ahmed said, “We will not allow the power plant in the area by any means, as it will deal a severe blow to both our livelihood and our environment.”

 

Thousands of people from Shilkuta, Maizpara and Poagona villages participated in the meeting also expressed solidarity with the protest.

 

At least four people were killed and 30 people, including 11 police members, were injured in a violent clash among two groups of villagers over constructing a coal-fired power plant in Banshkhali upazila of Chittagong on April 6.

 

risingbd/Chittagong/Apr 08, 2016/Rezaul/A K Azad