At least four people have been shot dead by police in Bangladesh during protests by villagers against the construction of a USD 2.4 billion China-backed power plant on a farmland near Chittagong.
Twenty five others, including policemen, were injured in the clashes that erupted on Monday when villagers rallied near the site of the project to oppose the installation of twin power plants to be built with the help of two Chinese firms at Bashkhali on the outskirts of the port city.
The villagers say that the plant will evict thousands from the area. “Police were attacked when they tried to disperse the warring groups. They opened fire in self-defence,” Additional Superintendent of Police (South) Habibur Rahman was quoted as saying by media reports.
Police said they have filed a case charging over 3,000 villagers for vandalism in which 11 members of the law enforcement agency were also wounded.
“Three of the villagers died during the clash and one succumbed to his wounds at a nearby hospital after the clashes with police,” a witness said.
The reports said a group of villagers opposed the construction of the proposed plant fearing loss of their livelihood as the area was suitable for salt and shrimp cultivation.
They alleged S Alam Group, which is set to install the 1,320-megawatt coal-based thermal power plant was acquiring the land using force without any rehabilitation scheme for the residents there.
The two Chinese firms -- SEPCOIII Electric Power and HTG -- are financing USD 1.75 billion of the plants’ estimated USD 2.4 billion cost.
Reports suggested the clash erupted after police intervened to drive away the villagers from the site. “Police were attacked when they tried to disperse the warring groups ... they (police) had to use their guns for self-defence,” a police official said.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident with an additional district magistrate as its convener.