Banshkhali protests postponed for 15 days

A committee for the protection of houses and graveyard in Gondamara union yesterday postponed its today's programme of laying siege to the upazila parishad.

The decision came after Chittagong district (South) Awami League leader Abdullah Kabir Liton visited the area yesterday and asked for 15 days' time to resolve the issue.

Liakot Ali, convener of the committee, at a mass rally held at the union on Friday declared the lay-siege programme.

His aide Abu Ahmed said the committee deferred the programme after Abdullah Kabir Liton asked for 15 days to resolve the problem.

“At a rally held at Gondamara union yesterday, he [Liton] assured us  that environmental experts would be brought into the area. They will ask for locals' opinions,” said Abu Ahmed.

Contacted, Liton said as per the direction of the higher authorities of the government, he went to the area and talked to locals and wanted 15 days' time from them.

“We have ensured the villagers to bring environmental experts in the area to talk to them,” Litan said, adding that the experts would sit with them, hear their problems and know their views.

“I think through this discussion, a positive result would come,” he added.

Meanwhile, BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman yesterday visited the union. He urged the government to form a judicial enquiry team led by a Supreme Court judge to probe the incident by arranging a mass hearing.

Calling upon the government to compensate the families of the deceased and the victims, the BNP leader said the government should withdraw the cases lodged against Liakot and others.

“We favour development but we cannot allow any project that goes against people's interest,” he said.

A team of lawyers led by Chittagong District Bar Association President Kafil Uddin also visited the area yesterday.

“Electricity is for the people. Then why the people are being killed for electricity,” Kafil said. He also urged the government not to take any steps that can harass the innocent locals.

On April 4, four people were killed and 30 others injured in a clash between law enforcers and locals in Gondamara union in Banshkhali upazila of Chittagong over installation of a coal-based power plant.