At least 150 people, including the Phulbari mayor, have been sued on charge of attacking and damaging the local office and vehicles of Asia Energy Corporation of Bangladesh in Phulbari upazila on November 26.

Saidur Rahman, a field officer of Asia Energy Corporation of Bangladesh, filed the case with Senior Judicial Magistrate court of Md Nazmul Hossain in the district on Wednesday, said police.

The accused include Golam Mortuza Sarker Manik, mayor of Phulbari municipality and convener of a Professional Group, a local anti coalmine body in Phulbari and local leaders of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports including its convener Syed Saiful Islam Jewel, member secretary Joyprokash Gupta, SM Nuruzzaman, former member of the committee, SM Kayyum and Aminul Islam Bablu, a member of the committee and former UP chairman.

The court directed ABM Rezaul Islam, officer in-charge of Phulbari police station to record the case.

Meanwhile, the move to sue the leaders of anti coalmine protesters in Phulbari triggered a fresh anger among the local people.

Contacted, Saiful Islam Jewel, convener of Phulbari unit of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports said "We are worried about the government’s slow pace in implementing our demands".

The leaders of the committee called for a rally to realise their demands on December 27.

The demands include ouster of the Asia Energy company from Bangladesh and issuing arrest warrant against its chief executive Gary Lye.

Gary Lye visited the office on November 24.

Protesting his visit, the anti coalmine protesters attacked the Asia Energy office and went on rampage there on November 26. Two jeeps and a pickup van were also damaged during the attack.