Bangladesh News

Four days of continuous strike has virtually halted the economy of Phulbari town in Dinajpur but the locals still showed enormous zeal to prevent Asia Energy from extracting coal.

A good number of people expressed anxiety and helplessness for their suffering in living the normal life due to the strike. Some claimed to have been starving or living half-fed since the strike began.

Thousands of protesters from three neighbouring upazilas demonstrated yesterday in Phulbari town during the countrywide hartal protesting the killing of seven people in firing by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on a procession on August 26.

Phulbari and adjacent upazilas remained completely isolated from the country yesterday as protesters put fresh roadblocks and disrupted rail communications.

People from all walks of life participated in yesterday’s hartal and expressed solidarity with the ongoing movement of the locals of Phulbari. They vowed not to return home until the London-based company leaves the land.

Mohammad Mukul, an employee of a local restaurant, said he had only a cup of tea and some puffed rice yesterday. “I have been starving with my four-member family due to the strike,” he said, adding, “I have all my supports for the strike but I also have to live and survive.”

Zahirul Islam, a beetle leaf shop-owner in Railgate area, said he used to earn around Tk 2,000 a day but could not earn more than Tk 50 in the last four days as he opens his shop only for about an hour. “I have to support a family of five with the earning from the business,” he said.

Asked if he still supports the movement, he said, “If Asia Energy is allowed to start activities here, we will have nothing to live for. We can starve a few more days for the long-term benefit.”

Masum, owner of a tyre repair shop, said he also has been facing problems supporting his eight-member family as he could not earn at all in the last four days. He said he ate nothing in 36 hours while his family members are almost starving.

Meanwhile, virtually no law and order was observed in Phulbari.

Sources said many agitators and locals have been felling roadside trees for roadblocks during the strike at daytime and selling those at night.

A mob severely beat up one Mohammad Milon yesterday morning as he was setting up roadblocks on the Dinajpur-Phulbari Highway.

Miscreants are also taking the chance of the strike as the police and local administration have no control in the town. There were also reports of looting in the remote areas of the upazila.

Officer-in-Charge of Phulbari Police Station Fazlul Haq admitted the incidents, saying, “We are not interfering to avoid further clash with the agitators.”