Police prevent oil-gas protection march: 20 injured

Around 20 members of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports were injured as police clubbed them back from a march on the government’s energy ministry to protest a deal with an American company.

The committee activists had a plan to lay a siege to the Energy Ministry in protest against the government bid to give lease of two deep-sea blocks to US oil company ConocoPhillips South Asia New Venture Ltd for oil-gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal.

As part of the programme, committee members held a brief protest rally at 11am in front of the National Press Club where its convenor engineer Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah and member-secretary Prof Anu Mohammad spoke.

After the rally was over, committee members in a procession were heading towards the ministry.

“But, as it reached near Dainik Bangla crossing, police charged baton on the marchers, leaving 20 leaders-activists injured, including Jahangirnagar University teacher Rehnuma Ahmed,” says a spot report.

Leaders of the Workers Party of Bangladesh, BSD, Gano Sanghati Andolan, the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Biplobi Workers Party joined the rally.

Meanwhile, the committee announced a programme for June 16 to protest the police action on its leaders-activists.

The programme includes demonstration in front of the National Press Club and the wearing of black badges.