Youths of Cox’s Bazar have protested against the killing of seven workers of a coal power plant in Banshkhali.
A joint protest by Youthnet for Climate Justice and the Foreign Debt Working Group was held in Cox’s Bazar today. It was attended by members of Youthnet for Climate Justice in Cox’s Bazar district.
Zimran Md Sayek, Cox’s Bazar district coordinator of Youthnet for Climate Justice, said they were exercising their democratic rights by demanding workers’ rights and arrears of wages. But in return, they had to give their lives. The condition of the workers at the Sepco III coal-fired power plant and the casualties must be investigated. Authorities must explain why the workers were shot.
He further said that getting wages of workers is a basic human right – if they got it, they would not have to agitate. From this, it is clear how devastating coal is for our lives. Not only are these companies causing climate disasters, but they are also responsible for the deaths of five hardworking people who were someone’s child, father, or brother. We want justice for them. We want justice for the killing of workers, we demand the closure of coal power plants.
Earlier, four people were killed when locals opened fire on a land acquisition protest in 2016 at the start of work on the project.
