Tension has flared in Patuakhali’s Kalapara after a violent assault on protesting vessel workers near the Payra 1,320 MW Thermal Power Plant left at least 12 individuals injured. The attack, allegedly orchestrated by local members of Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal—the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)—took place on Tuesday afternoon, 25 August, near the Bottala market adjacent to the power plant’s primary jetty.
The violence erupted following hours of peaceful demonstrations organized by the government-registered Patuakhali Water Transport Workers’ Union. Starting around 11:00 AM, dozens of union members had gathered outside the main entrance of the coal-fired facility to demand fair employment opportunities. Specifically, the workers were advocating for the official inclusion of local marine laborers in the loading and unloading operations of vessels transporting coal and essential raw materials to the power plant. Demonstrators highlighted that local workers had been systematically excluded from these maritime operations for an extended period, leading to widespread economic hardship across the coastal community.
The protest proceeded with rallies and sit-ins until around 3:00 PM, when officers from the Kalapara Police Station arrived at the scene. Following assurances from law enforcement that officials would mediate their grievances with the plant authority, the union agreed to temporarily suspend its demonstration. While the majority of the crowd dispersed peacefully, a small group of workers remained behind near the Bottala market area.
According to eyewitnesses and injured victims, the situation took a violent turn at approximately 5:00 PM when a gang of seven to eight individuals armed with wooden sticks and batons launched a sudden assault on the remaining workers. Victims alleged that the attack was led directly by Tapan Mridha, president of the Dhankhali Union unit of Juba Dal. The assailants reportedly used brute force to assert political dominance, beating the unarmed workers indiscriminately and sparking panic across the market.
Local residents and fellow union members rushed to intervene, rescuing the injured and transporting them to the Kalapara Upazila Health Complex. Five workers sustained severe injuries and were admitted for inpatient care: Rezaul Paeda (40), Hiron Paeda (35), Imam Paeda (30), Khokon (25), and Hasan (20). The remaining seven victims received primary medical attention for minor lacerations and bruises.
Addressing the allegations, Tapan Mridha categorically denied any involvement in the assault. He asserted that local administration officials were present near the site during the afternoon and challenged anyone to prove his direct participation. Mridha claimed he only arrived at Bottala market after hearing news of a altercation to assess the situation and maintained that he had no knowledge of who initiated the violence.
Nazerul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kalapara Police Station, confirmed that additional police personnel have been deployed to maintain order around the Payra power plant complex. He noted that the area remains calm under security supervision and stated that formal legal action will be initiated immediately upon receiving a written complaint from the aggrieved workers.
