Energy Bangla

Energy electricity and environment news portal

Dhaka Friday,  Mar 29, 2024

Police Lobbed Tear Shell At Hartal: 20 Injured Including 2 Journalists

Mahfuj Risad

Police lobbed tear shells and fired rubber bullets to disperse the agitators observing a half-day hartal on today backed by the National committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Natural Resources, Power and Port in the capital. According to the organizers of the hartal, at least 20 were injured including two journalists and the President of Chatra Union, Lucky Akter.

The national committee called for a half-day hartal on today demanding cancellation of the controversial Rampal Power Plant Project. Leaders and members of the organizations including several leftist student organizations staged demonstration early at the morning. They brought out a procession in support of hartal at the Dhaka University Campus which started to move towards Shahbagh intersection at around 6.30 AM. Police placed a barricade at just before the Shahbagh intersection which led to somewhat mayhem. At a point, police lobbed tear shells to the agitators and fired rubber bullets, which left at least 20 injured at the spot.

Rampal - hartal-energy bangla

Farjana, an injured activist who is currently admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital informed the Energybangla that, Lucky Akter the president of the leftist student’s organization named Chatra Union, Laboni Mondal, Umme Habiba Benjir, Rayhan, Nasir, Kakon are among the injured.

Another source claimed that, two journalists of a private television channel were also assaulted by the police while covering this procession.

Environmentalists and activists from all over the world have already expressed their concern about the placement of the much talked coal-based power plant of Rampal. They have been claiming that the power plant will significantly harm the ecosystem of adjacent Sundarbans which is the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO world heritage site. The national committee has been protesting the government’s stance towards the installation of the power plant.

rampal -hortal-journalist-energy bangla

Comment here