A violent clash erupted near the Payra 1,320 MW Thermal Power Plant in Patuakhali’s Kalapara Upazila on Tuesday afternoon, leaving at least 12 members of the Patuakhali Water Transport Workers’ Union injured following an alleged assault by local Jubo Dal leaders and activists.
The incident took place at around 5:00 pm in the Bottala Bazar area adjacent to the power plant’s jetty. The assault unfolded shortly after protesting maritime workers had suspended a day-long demonstration following police intervention.
Tension had been brewing since 11:00 am on Tuesday, when members of the government-registered Patuakhali Water Transport Workers’ Union staged a protest march and sit-in near the coal-fired power station. The workers were demanding the inclusion and hiring of local union members for vessel loading and unloading operations at the facility’s jetty, which handles significant volumes of imported coal and raw materials vital for electricity generation.
Negotiations mediated by Kalapara Police Station officers led to a temporary suspension of the demonstration at around 3:00 pm. While most protesters dispersed, a small group of workers remained gathered in the Bottala Bazar vicinity.
According to victim accounts, a group of seven to eight individuals armed with wooden sticks, led by Tapan Mridha, president of the Dhankhali Union Jubo Dal—the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)—launched an unprovoked attack on the remaining workers. Local residents intervened shortly after the violence broke out, rescuing the injured and transporting them to Kalapara Upazila Health Complex for medical treatment. Five of the hospitalized workers have been identified as Rezaul Paida (40), Hiran Paida (35), Imam Paida (30), Khokon (25), and Hasan (20).
Tapan Mridha strongly denied any personal involvement in the assault, claiming he arrived at the location only after the violence had ended. He noted that administrative officials were present in the vicinity and stated he would accept responsibility only if authorities verified his presence during the attack. He added that he could not identify the individuals responsible for the brawl.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kalapara Police Station, Nazrul Islam, confirmed that police are monitoring the situation and stated that formal legal action will be initiated upon receiving a written complaint from the victims or the union.
