Deadlock at Payra Power Plant continues for 3rd day

A deadlock is continuing at the Payra 1,320 MW thermal power plant in Kalapara upazila for the third consecutive day, following last week's workers unrest.

Two cases - one for murder, and another for vandalism - were filed with Kalapara police station accusing 500/600 workers on Thursday, reports UNB.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) Monirul Islam of Kalapara police station said 15 workers were arrested in a drive at BCPCL area concerning the incidents.  Many workers are on the run to avoid arrest.

The death of a local worker, Sabindra Das, 32, who died after falling into a boiler of the plant, triggered the unrest that led to the killing of a Chinese worker.

Sources said the situation is yet to return to normal after the protest. 

A three-member probe body, led by Additional District Magistrate Nurul Hafiz, has been asked to submit a report within seven working days.

Eight platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh, 850 members of police, Rapid Action Battalion, and Range Reserve Force have been deployed in the area.

What happened on Tuesday?

On Tuesday, Sabindra Das, 32, a local worker died after falling into a boiler of Payra thermal power plant. The other workers protested the incident, and vandalized the office, canteen, and training centre inside the plant.

Agitated workers also confined the employees, and staff of BCPCL along with the 3,000 Chinese workers, in the power plant for eight hours.

Six Chinese workers, who were injured during the unrest, were sent to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. Jung Yung Sung, one of the Chinese workers, died on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, two of the injured Chinese workers were sent to Dhaka for better treatment.