Labourer's Protest at Rampal Coal Power Plant: 4 May 2020
Channel: BWGED Bangladesh
Date: 14/05/2020

More than two hundred Indian Labours started procession and blocked Khulna-Mongla Highway on 4 May 2020 with demands of going back home during COVID-19 pandemic period. Indian state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) is jointly constructing 1320 MW Rampal Coal Power Plant (formal name: Maitree Super Thermal Power Project) under Special Purpose Vehicle Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL). Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor of the power plant.
The BHEL recruited around 1500 Indian labourers at the construction site of Rampal Coal Power Plant.
Bangladesh Government declared total lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic on 24th March 2020. Indian Government also did the same on 22 March 2020. But the construction works have been going on regularly during lockdown period with risk of transmitting the germs from one to another. However the labourers are also anxious about their family members during this emergency.
After whole day of protest, the Deputy Project Director of Rampal Coal Power Plant, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Bagerhat District, Superintendent of Police (SP) for Bagerhat District sat with the labourers and assured them that they will communicate with the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and try to arrange a way for the labourers to return home safely.
The Labourers are still waiting for decisions from high officials of the both countries.

Video Courtesy: Noor Alam Sheikh