Gas, electricity price hike
Protests continue
Leaders of different organisations across the country yesterday protested against the governments decision to hike the price of gas and electricity.
They urged the government to immediately rollback its decision since such a move will jeopardise the lives of the poor and called upon the people to raise voice against the decision.
It was the recurring theme that came across in press conferences, rallies and processions held in Dhaka, Chittagong and Bogra under the banners of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), the Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD) and the United National Awami Party.
BNP International Affairs Secretary, Asaduzzaman Ripon, at its Naya Paltan headquarters demanded the withdrawal of price hike of gas and electricity, saying it would add to the suffering of the lower and middle income families.
Its illogical to increase the price of gas and electricity. The lower and middle income families will suffer due to it. Though, the price of oil in the international market has decreased, but the government took the decision to increase the price of power and gas. Its an anti-people decision, he added.
While addressing a rally at Paltan intersection in the capital, eminent communist leader, Syed Abul Maksud, said, The government has given electric shock to the 16 crore people of the country by illogically increasing the price of electricity. There is no reason to hike the price of electricity as the production cost of power has decreased, because of the fall in oil price in the world market, he said.
Criticising the government, CPB General Secretary, Syed Abu Zafar Ahmed, said, This government does not need peoples vote to be elected. So it does not care about peoples opinion to increase gas and electricity price.
