The unprecedented movement at Kansat in Chapainawabganj, claiming the lives of at least 20 people so far, is gradually turning into a movement against the administration though it began by demanding uninterrupted power supply.

Thousands of people joined a rally in Shyampur of the area yesterday and vowed to continue the ongoing movement until Rajshahi City Mayor and local BNP lawmaker were punished for directing the police to open fire on people demanding electricity.

Carrying bamboo sticks, the demonstrators, including a good number of women, in the rallyFROM PAGE 1

shouted slogans against Rajshahi City Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu and local ruling party lawmaker Mohammad Shahjahan.

About 20,000 people gathered at the rally, organised by the 14-party opposition alliance against the police killings. Senior leaders of 14-party alliance from Dhaka addressed the rally and said they would spread the movement of Kansat across the country.

"Half of the demonstrators at the rally are not involved with any political party...they are ordinary people," a local schoolteacher told this correspondent near the rally adding, "Many of the rally participants are former supporters of ruling BNP."

Champa Begum, widow of Garibullah, killed on January 23 by police firing, addressed the huge gathering and demanded punishment to the culprits who killed her husband.

Manzur Hossain, father of Kajal killed on January 4 by police fire, took the microphone and alleged Rajshahi mayor and local BNP lawmaker are the main culprits behind the violence in Kansat.

Abdus Salek, 18, came to join the rally from Hazardighi village, about 10 kilometres from the rally venue and said all men of his village joined the rally. "We didn't know how to protest despite suffering for a long time. But, now we are united and determined to defeat the opponents [government]. We have no way, but to succeed," he added.

"We are not involved in politics, we are here for our rights," said Enamul, 28, of Mobarakpur village. "All the people of my maternal uncle's village, Bishwanathpur, have fled to avoid police atrocities," he said. "The movement is not only for 14-point demand for power now, we will not return home until the killers of my brothers are punished," he added.

Talking about police atrocitiesin the area since the deployment, a local said some BNP men along with police joinedin looting villagers' houses.

Describing his plight as a Palli Bidyut consumer, shop owner Faruk said he had to pay Tk 8,500 when employees of the Palli Bidyat told him his electric meter was faulty. "My electric meter was okay and was giving correct readings but the employees of Palli Bidyut tricked me to take money from me," he said.

"The monthly service charge for electricity is Tk 105," said Sobhan Mia, a farmer of Kansat. "Why should I pay the money when I get electricity for two hours a day?" he questioned. "Moreover, the consumers have to bear monthly meter rent of Tk 50," he added. Another local farmer Abdus Samad said the consumers have to bear the replacement cost of any transformer or cable stolen in the area.