Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Sunday fixed Monday for hearing a writ petition that sought its directive for a judicial enquiry into the killings of seven workers of an under-construction power plant at Chattogram’s Banshkhali upazila on April 17.
The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir set the date after the petition had been submitted, said Advocate Syeda Nasrin who appeared in the court on behalf of the writ petitioner. The lawyer said, “I submitted the petition in the court and the court set Monday for holding hearing on it.”
Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a leading rights organization, filed the writ petition on April 22 also requesting the HC to pass an order upon the authorities to ensure security of the rest of the workers of the power plant and to pay Tk two million as initial compensation to each family of the each of the deceased workers.
The organization in its petition prayed to the court to issue a ruling upon the respondents to explain as to why they should not be directed to pay Tk 30 million in compensation to the families of the workers who were killed, and Tk 20 million in compensation to the families of the injured workers.
It also prayed to the court to issue a ruling upon the respondents to explain as to why a criminal case should not be initiated against the real culprits of the incident.
The lawyer said earlier that she on behalf of the organization sent a notice to the respondents demanding appropriate legal action against the killers of the workers of the power plant and to pay compensation to the victim families. As no reply was received, the organization filed the writ petition.
The High Court on Sunday admitted the writ petition after it had been submitted.
Home secretary, law secretary, industries secretary, commerce secretary, inspector general of police and others have been made respondents in the petition.
A total of seven workers of an under-construction coal-fired power plant were killed and at least 21 others injured after a clash with police in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram on April 17.
The deceased are— Raihan (20), Rony Hossain (22), Md Rahad (24), Shuvo (23), Mahmud Reza (19), Shimul Ahmed (23) and Raziur Rahman (22).
Workers of the SS Power I Plant, a joint venture involving S Alam Group, alleged that the law enforcers opened fire on their peacefull demonstration demanding arrears and pay hikes. They said they were supposed to get arrears of one to three months.
