Rampal power plant project
50 hurt as police foil protest
UNB
Police yesterday foiled an attempt of the National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas-Natural Resources and Power-Port to march towards the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) protesting the signing of a contract for implementing the Rampal power plant project near the Sundarbans, reports UNB.
The National Committee brought out a procession to march towards the PMO from National Press Club around 12:15 pm as part of their scheduled programme.
As the activists took out the procession, police put barricades at some points of the city.
When the protesters reached Shahbagh, police obstructed them, triggering a scuffle between police and the protesters.
Later, the protesters move on keeping the police barricade aside. When they get close to Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, police again obstructed them.
At one stage, police lobbed teargas shells and charged baton to disperse them, leaving 50 people injured.
Of the injured, 12 were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Dhaka University medical centre. Police also arrested 8-10 people from the spot.
Earlier, the National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas-Natural Resources and Power-Port announced fresh programmes, including bringing out a procession towards the PMO for July 28, protesting Rampal power plant project near the Sundarbans.
The other programmes include countrywide demonstrations, rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club, road marches in Dhaka and in the districts around the Rampal project on July 19-25.
