Gas price hike
LDA calls for half-day strike on July 7
UNB, Dhaka
Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a platform of left-leaning political parties, has called a half-day nationwide hartal for July 7 protesting the hike in gas prices. The alliance announced the shutdown programme at Mukti Bhaban in Paltan area yesterday afternoon. Confirming the matter, Zunayed Saki, convener of Ganosamhati Andolon and also central leader of LDA, told UNB that his party extended their support to the strike.
The National Committee to Protect Oil,Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports also expressed their solidarity with the movement against the hike in gas prices. On Sunday, the government raised the gas prices by 32.8 percent on average for the retail consumers in the country with effect from July 1. UNB adds: terming it
completely illogical, Ganaforum yesterday urged the government to immediately annul the decision to raise the gas price hike. In a statement, party general secretary Reza Kibria said, A new burden has been imposed on people by raising the gas tariff due to the governments corruption, incapability and failure to run the country.
He feared that the gas price hike will push up the fare of public transport and the cost of production in industries.
By increasing the gas tariff, the Ganaforum leader alleged, the government has once again demonstrated that it is not running the country in the interest of people.
