Ctg oxygen plants remain closed for 'humiliating Santu' by police

All oxygen plants in Chattogram remained closed for Friday in protest against producing arrested Seema Oxygen Plant's managing director Md Parvez Uddin Santu at court by tying a rope around his waist.

Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association (BSBA) enforced the protest programme.

The BSBA also criticised the authorities for producing the managing director before a court by tying a rope around Santu’s waist on Wednesday.

Its president Mohammad Abu Taher announced the programme at a protest meeting on Thursday.

"Owners of all oxygen plants in Chattogram announced to observe the shutdown on Friday protesting the harassment of Santu by police," he said.

Abu Taher further said the country's business community felt ashamed of the incident of producing Chattogram-based Seema Oxygen Plant's MD Santu before the court by tying with a rope.

The BSBA will form a human-chain in front of Chattogram Press Club on Saturday demanding release of Santu and action against accused police personnel involved with the harassment, he said.

President Taher also warned that they would shut down all ship breaking yards unless their demands are met within the stipulated time.

Earlier, on 4 March, a massive cylinder explosion and a fire at Seema Oxygen Plant in Kadam Rasul area of Bhatiari union of Sitakunda left seven people dead and 30 others wounded.

Rokeya Begum, the wife of Abdul Quader who died in the explosion, filed the case against 16 people, including three brothers, who own the oxygen plant.

Police arrested Santu involving the case filed on 4 March.

A Chattogram court placed him one-day remand on Wednesday.