Gonotantrik Bam Morcha demands judicial probe

Gonotantrik Bam Morcha leaders yesterday demanded a judicial probe into police's attacks on their members during their recent "road march" from Dhaka to the Sundarbans demanding cancellation of the coal-based Rampal power plant project.

"We demand an acceptable judicial probe to investigate the police and the ruling party men's attacks on us without any instigation. We also demand that the responsible police members be tried and punished," Syful Haque, coordinator of the morcha, told a press conference.

Reading out a written statement in Comrade Nirmal Sen Auditorium in the capital, he alleged that the government has exposed its autocratic attitude by obstructing their peaceful march.

"The government now fears any rational and peaceful programme which goes against its interests. They (government) are talking about democracy, but in reality they are practicing the policy of repression," claimed Saiful Haque, also general secretary of Biplobi Workers Party.

Despite opposition from different national and international organisations like Unesco, the government decided to build the coal-based power plant only to please the Indian government, he alleged.

The morcha started off towards the Sundarbans from Dhaka on October 16.     

At least 40 leaders and activists of the morcha, including its coordinator Saiful Haque, Gono Sanghati Andolon's central General Secretary Zonayed Saki and Gonotantrik Biplobi Party's General Secretary Moshrefa Mishu, were injured when police charged baton on them when their road march reached Manikganj and Magura on October 16 and 17.

The morcha also faced police truncheons in Jhenidah and Jessore during their road march.