11-party alliance holds nationwide protest
The 11-Party Alliance on Thursday launched a nationwide protest campaign over the country’s worsening gas and electricity crisis, announcing a three-month programme that includes long marches, a rail journey and a grand rally in Dhaka.
The alliance leaders and activists began the campaign with a sit-in programme at Zero Point in Paltan, Dhaka, before marching towards the Secretariat. Police stopped the procession near Gate No. 1 of the Secretariat.
Addressing the programme, Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman announced the protest schedule, which will continue until November.
Under the programme, the alliance will organise a long march from Dhaka to Chattogram on September 5, another march from Dhaka to Rangpur on September 19, and a Dhaka-Khulna-Jashore-Kushtia-Dhaka march on October 10.
The alliance will also hold a rail journey to Sylhet on October 24 and conclude the campaign with a grand rally in Dhaka on November 14.
Shafiqur alleged that the government had created an artificial gas crisis to justify price hikes. He demanded uninterrupted gas and electricity supply, withdrawal of the LPG price increase and an end to what the alliance described as “ghost” electricity bills.
The alliance presented a 10-point charter of demands, including suspending gas bill collection in areas without gas supply, increasing domestic gas production, investigating the failure of the Moheshkhali LNG terminal, curbing gas theft and system losses, ensuring uninterrupted energy supply for industries, and taking action against corruption and mismanagement in the energy sector.
After waiting for around 15 minutes outside the Secretariat for a government representative, the alliance ended its Dhaka programme without submitting the memorandum.
Meanwhile, in Chattogram, alliance leaders and activists held a rally at Laldighi before marching to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, where they submitted a memorandum addressed to the prime minister through the district administration.
The memorandum demanded immediate steps to resolve the gas crisis, end prolonged load shedding, withdraw increased electricity tariffs and “ghost bills”, and control the rising prices of essential commodities.
Senior Assistant Commissioner (Land Acquisition) and Executive Magistrate Md Anisur Rahman Khan received the memorandum on behalf of the Chattogram deputy commissioner.
Speaking at the rally, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Central Working Committee member and Chattogram city Ameer Muhammad Nazrul Islam said prolonged gas shortages had severely affected households, businesses and industries in Chattogram and other parts of the country.
He also alleged that many consumers were receiving inflated electricity bills and demanded an investigation into the issue and action against those responsible.
The alliance also called for an investigation into alleged market manipulation behind rising commodity prices and urged the government to issue an official gazette recognising those killed during the July Uprising while ensuring state support for their families.
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam on Thursday accused the government of repeatedly betraying the people since the beginning of the election process.
“The betrayal this government has committed since the beginning of the election will continue at every step unless the people resist it. The people of Bangladesh will not allow the government to behave this way,” he said.
Nahid made the remarks while addressing an 11-party unity program at Muktangan in the capital, protesting fuel price hikes and rising commodity prices.
Referring to the BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, Nahid said: “If the Tarique Rahman government cannot ensure people’s basic rights, including uninterrupted gas and electricity supply, employment opportunities, and affordable commodity prices, then it should not dream of remaining in power.”
He also alleged that activists of the ruling party’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, were carrying out attacks on opposition student activists on university campuses.
