At least 10 supporters, and activists of Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) were injured after police baton charged, and foiled their attempt to lay siege on the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry in Dhaka, in protest against the recent gas price hike.
Saiful Haq, general secretary of Biplobi Workers' Party, one of the allies of the eight leftist parties that formed the coalition, said the injured were released after primary treatment.
The LDA leaders, and activists removed the barricades from in front of the Secretariat gate adjoining the National Press Club around 1pm on Sunday.
The siege program turned into a scuffle when police obstructed the protesters while they were trying to overpower policemen. The 15-minute scuffle left 10 people injured.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Ramna Zone) Mohammad Azimul Haq said they did not allow the protesters to proceed on the road leading to the Secretariat as it is a highly restricted area.
Activists of Left Democratic Alliance removes barricades set up on the road stretching towards the Secretariat from Jatiya Press Club on Sunday, July 14, 2019 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune“That is why they were barred from entering the area,” he said.
When reporters asked about the scuffle, a police official said only the higher authorities can answer about the incident.
The alliance said, it would declare its next course of action at a central representatives’ summit in Dhaka on July 19.
Earlier in the day, the LDA held a rally in front of the press club protesting the gas price hike that came into effect on July 1.
The government on June 30 raised natural gas prices in eight categories, including household, despite persistent resistance from consumer rights groups.
The new weighted average price of gas at the consumer level was set at Tk9.8 per cubic foot, a 32% increase from Tk7.38.
Prime Minister’s anger
Addressing the rally, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Shah Alam alleged that the government is showing little care about the people’s inconvenience.
“It raised the gas prices in an autocratic manner,” he maintained.
He also expressed his resentment at the prime minister’s statement supporting the price hike.
“How could she comment that the prices must have been pushed by 75% instead of the 32.8% rise?” he said, accusing the government of robbing the people in the pretext of development.
Also Read- The sense in paying more for gas
On July 11, the Prime Minister told the House that 75% hike in gas price was needed, but the government increased it by only 32.8%. The total cost for importing per cubic feet LNG is Tk61.12, but it is being sold at Tk9.80 per cft by providing huge subsidy.
CPB Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said, the prime minister’s statement on the price hike is unacceptable.
“The arguments made against the price hike during a mass hearing were not reported to her. I believe she is not even aware of the massive corruption in the energy sector, and the errant policy to import LNG,” he said.
LDA coordinator, and general secretary of United Communist League Mosharraf Hossain Nannu said, the government is focusing more on importing expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG) rather than taking initiatives for gas exploration.
“Why is the government importing LNG at higher prices, putting a burden on the masses?” he questioned.
On July 7, the LDA observed half-day nationwide strike over the same issue.