Protesters besiege Tengratila gas field office for 10 hours

The demands include payment of compensation for damages to their property by blowouts during drilling for gas by Canadian company Niko.

Yesterday's agitation was part of a three-day fresh programme launched on Sunday. They will hold another rally today and hand over memorandums to the Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner and the Police Superintendent to press their demands.

Dewan Ali, a leader of the Tengratila Dabi Aday Sangram Parishad, chaired the rally held at the gas field gate.

The processionists paraded roads in the area chanting slogans to fulfil their demands immediately.

Speakers at the rally said, the affected people will go for tougher agitation if the demands are not met. They said the compensation must be paid as per suggestion of the government formed probe committees.

They alleged the Canadian company was trying to

Avoid payment of the compensation by blaming the government. No conspiracy or trick by the company will be able to foil the agitation, they said.

The demands include payment of Tk 84 crore in compensation for environmental damage, proper compensation to the 611 families affected by the blowouts, employment for the locals in the gas filed, establishment of a gas-based 50 MW power plant near Tengratila and supply of safe water to the affected villages.