One person was killed and at least nine others were injured when two groups of locals clashed during a meeting over building of the controversial coal-fired power plant in Chittagong's Banskhali yesterday.

Liaqat Ali, former chairman and a BNP leader, called the meeting on the plant's proposed site following an "agreement” between local land owners, security forces and S Alam Croup, which is implementing the project.

During the meeting around 1:00pm, the group led by Jubo League leader Nur Mostafa protested the move, saying Liaqat had no right to call the meeting. It is because of him that four people were killed during a protest against the plant last year, they argued.

The two groups hurled brickbats al each other and dashed with bamboo sticks, police and witnesses said.

On April 4 last year, four people died after police opened fire on protesters at Condamara union of the upazila where the 1,320 megawatt plant is planned. Tension between locals and S Alam Croup has been

running high since then.

In October last year, members of navy, Rab, police, Bangladesh Border Guard and Coast Guard were deployed on the site.

Liaqat had been protesting against the plant from the beginning, but later changed his position.

After the clash, Mostafa told journalists that Liaqat had no right to strike any agreement after the loss of four lives.

Liaqat said Mostafa did not want the problem to be solved and that's why he created chaos.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (Satkania Circle) Mofiz Uddin said, "Both groups were involved in the clash which began after someone hurled a brick chip.”

The dead is Mohammed Ali, 27, of Barghona village in Gondamara.

The injured were treated locally. They are Md Younus, 65, Mostafiz, 58, Kabir Ahmed, 55, Nur Uddin, 45, Jamal Hossain, 40, Md Selim, 36, Abdur Rashid, 28, Abu Syed, 25, and Abdul Karim. 25.