Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP), a platform of over a dozen labor rights bodies, on Wednesday, demanded judicial investigation into the killing of five coal-fired power plant workers at Banshkhali in Chattogram to ensure punishment of those responsible for the incident.
It also demanded the withdrawal of ‘false case’ to end harassment of workers, provide good compensation and ensyure free treatment of the injured workers.
The federation staged a demo in front of the Jatiya Press Club to press home their demands at 11 am on Wednesday, said a press release.
According to witnesses, workers were demonstrating to meet their 10-point demand including payment of arrears and reducing daily working hours to 4 on Friday and 8 on other days during Ramadan.
Despite assuring to accept their demands a day ago initially, authorities then refused to meet these on a fateful day. Five workers were killed and over 50 others injured in an indiscriminate firing on the demonstration of workers, they claimed.
Police can’t open fire indiscriminately unless a life-threatening risk is created, SKOP leaders said.
The SKOP leaders said it’ll have to look into the incident by a judicial body to unearth the true facts and identify the culprits.
They also expressed grave concern for harassing workers by filing ‘false’ cases against several thousand workers.
