In Kalapara, Patuakhali, affected families and educated unemployed youth of the area have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Payra Thermal Power Plant authority regarding land acquisition for the plant. They warned that if their eight-point demands are not met within this period, they will launch a blockade program.
The announcement was made by Rubiul Awal Antar, a member of the affected families and the chief coordinator of the ongoing movement, at a press conference held at 10:00 AM on Thursday in the Engineer Md. Touhidur Rahman Auditorium of Kalapara Press Club.
In his written statement at the press conference, he said that after the 24th mass uprising, on 5 September 2024, the affected families and educated unemployed youth first held a human chain and later a press conference to present an eight-point demand to the Payra Thermal Power Plant authority, issuing a 72-hour ultimatum.
On the final day of the ultimatum, meetings were held with the plant authority in the presence of the army. As a result of two days of discussions, the authority promised to meet 70% of the demands. However, nearly a year later, none of the demands have been met by the authorities for the affected families and local youth.
The eight-point demands of the affected families are removal and investigate the former Managing Director A.M. Khorshedul Alam and Plant Manager Shah Abdul Maula for involvement in corruption and, if necessary, arrest them, poviding compensation to the families whose land was acquired without delay, giving priority employment or job opportunities to affected families based on merit, ensuring overall development of the affected area and improve the living standards of every family in “Dream Address ", cancellation of all contracts of outsourcing companies engaged by the Payra Thermal Power Plant by electricity sector mafias, removal of all illegally appointed officials recruited through the former Minister of Power, Power Secretary, Managing Director, and Plant Manager, addressing drainage issues in about 700–800 acres of cultivable land around the Payra Thermal Power Plant, which remain uncultivated, and implement drainage measures immediately and formation of investigation committee against those involved in corruption and theft of national resources at the Payra Thermal Power Plant and bring the guilty to justice.
Representatives of the affected families and educated unemployed youth attended the press conference.
When contacted, Shahid Ullah Bhuiyan, DGM and Admin (HR) of Payra Thermal Power Plant, requested the questions be submitted in writing and said he would respond later after reviewing them.
