DHAKA: Protesters opposing the construction of a Chinese-backed, coal-fired power plant in Bangladesh agreed on Sunday to halt their activities for 15 days, defusing tensions after four demonstrators were killed last week.

Villagers for and against the $2.4 billion power plant in the coastal district of Chittagong clashed last week before riot police fired their weapons after coming under attack. Four protesters died in the violence.

S Alam Group, a Bangladeshi conglomerate which signed a deal on April 4 with China’s SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Corp. to build the 1,320 megawatt plant, suspended work because of safety concerns, a company official said last week.

Liakot Ali, the leader of the demonstrators, said they had made a number of demands to the authorities. He said a leader of Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League had asked for two weeks to settle the issues.

“We have demanded the release of all 17 people who have been arrested, the withdrawal of cases against villagers who demonstrated against this plant ... and the treatment of those injured during the demonstration,” he said.