Action will be taken if anyone resorts to violence during the hartal called for March 28 against price hike of essentials, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said.
Kamal issued the warning while talking to reporters after inaugurating the Police Liberation War Museum set up by Chittagong Metropolitan Police at Dampara of the port city on Thursday.
The half-day nationwide general strike has been called by the Baam Gonotantrik Morcha (Left Democratic Alliance).
The minister called for restraint and tolerance during hartal. "If any violence is created, action will be taken accordingly.
"It's a political practice for parties to call strikes, but we hope they will show their tolerance by not resorting to violence. Otherwise.. what is supposed to happen, will happen," he said.
"They called the strike against oil price hike but it has increased all over the globe, not only in Bangladesh. Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, transportation costs rose three folds," said Kamal.
"As Bangladesh is mostly an import-dependent country and it imports oil too, the rise in import costs has also impacted the local market,'' he said.
"The prime minister has already cut down VAT and tax on imports. Prices of onion, oil are already falling," he added.
