Two cases have been filed against 2500 people in connection with the clash at a coal-based power plant in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram that left five people dead on Saturday.
Shafiul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Banshkhali Police Station, said two separate cases-one on behalf of the power plant authority and another by police – were filed with the police station on charge of obstructing police from performing duties on Saturday night.
Some 2000-2500 unidentified people have been made accused in the two cases, said the OC.
Five workers of a coal-based power plant of S Alam Group were shot to death and 25 others injured in a clash between police and workers over payment of their dues in Banshkhali upazila on Saturday.
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, Banshkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), said police fired bullets on workers in self-defence as the workers went on rampage demanding payment of their dues.
But the workers claimed that police opened fire on them during their peaceful demonstration.
Workers said they were asking the authorities concerned to provide their salary regularly and set a new duty time for Ramadan.
Besides, the authorities were forcing them to work 10 hours instead of eight hours and on Fridays.
The workers also placed their 11-point demand to the authorities but they showed reluctant attitude towards their demand, forcing the workers to staged demonstrations, they claimed.
“A tense situation was created between workers and the power plant authority over the salary and working hours. Local people also took part in Saturday 's demonstrations and set fire to vehicles and carried out vandalism that forced the law enforcers to take action,” said the UNO.
Besides, local administration has formed a four-member probe committee while police formed a three-member committee over the incident.
The power plant authorities have assured of providing Tk 3 lakh each to the families of the five deceased and Tk 50,000 each to the the injured victims.
