Five rights organizations have filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking directives over the killings of workers at Banshkhali coal-based power plant in Chittagong.
The rights organizations are Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Nijera Kori (NK), Safety and Rights Society, and Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD).
They filed the petition as a public interest litigation on Wednesday.
The petitioners asked the court to conduct a judicial inquiry over the incidents and stop the construction of the plant. They also asked the local administration and police to submit their inquiry reports.
Also Read - Writ seeks judicial inquiry into Banskhali shooting
The rights organizations also sought a High Court directive instructing the Ministry of Labour and Employment to submit a report on the protection and safety system of the plant’s workers.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the lawyer for the petitioners, told Dhaka Tribune that they had urged the court to issue a rule asking the government to explain as to why appropriate legal action should not be taken to ensure the fundamental rights of all workers and citizens.
The High Court has been requested to ask the authorities as to why they should not be directed to pay compensation to the families and also why the project should not be scrapped.
She said that the government in 2018 decided to scrap the project as it was deemed unnecessary. The plant could be scrapped now as the country produced enough electricity to meet demand.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, who is also chief executive of BELA, said that the High Court might hear the petition on the next working day.
Also Read - 5 die in police firing at Banshkhali coal plant
Earlier, the human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra filed another writ petition with the High Court seeking judicial inquiry into the same incident.
On April 17, five workers of a coal-based power plant of S Alam Group were shot dead and 25 others were injured in a clash between police and workers over payment of their dues in Banshkhali upazila of Chittagong district.
The victims were identified as Ahmed Reza, Rony Hossain, Shuvho, Mohammad Rahat and Mohammad Raihan.
Another worker, who sustained bullet injuries during the clash, died at Chittagong Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday, raising the death toll to six.
Two cases have been filed against over 2,500 people in connection with the incident.