Payra Port (Patuakhali) Correspondent

More than four hundred family members of the victims have formed a human chain to demand payment of the price of the houses acquired in the Ashuganj Power Plant project. This human chain was held in the project area of Dhankhali Union at 10 am on Saturday.

The participants in the human chain said that 80 percent of the project has already been completed. However, the fair value of the acquired dwelling house was not paid. There have been allegations of time wasting and legal harassment of victims on various pretexts.

Chief Advisor Principal Secretary Saifullah Panna and Project Director Kamruzzaman visited the project during the human chain. The victims protested by blocking their convoy. The agitators later burnt effigies of the project director as an expression of their anger.

Dhankhali Union UP member Al-Mamun, former UP member Firoz Talukder, Ansar Uddin Molla, and Asaduzzaman Alamgir addressed the human chain and protest rally.

Speakers said, “Our residence was acquired about two years ago. But we still haven't got our due money. No work will be allowed in the project area until our demands are met.”

The speakers also complained that the locals are being treated indifferently in the implementation of the project. They called for payment of the fair value of the housing at the earliest.

Speakers made it clear that if the fair dues were not paid, a larger movement would be called to stop the work of the project. They drew the attention of the highest level of the government and said,

“We have put our trust in the government for fair dues. But as there is no solution for a long time, we are forced to take to the streets.”

Meanwhile, after the discussion with the protestors, the project director assured that effective steps will be taken to solve the problem soon. However, the agitators have announced that they will continue the agitation until the full implementation of their demands.