Left parties observe half-day hartal

Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a platform of eight left-leaning political parties, observed a half-day hartal in the city on Sunday protesting the recent gas price hike by the government.

The alliance also announced fresh programmes saying that if the authorities concerned don't drop the decision on the gas price hike, they will lay siege to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on July 14.

The leaders and activists of LDA blocked Purana Paltan and Shahbagh intersections at around 7:00 am and staged sit-in there, halting traffic in adjacent areas.

However, traffic situation was quite normal in other parts of the city.

Meanwhile, the agitators smashed the window glasses of a couple of buses in Paltan area. They also set tyres on fire near Paltan intersection, disrupting traffic.

Left-leaning activists of several student unions from Dhaka University took to the streets near Shahbagh intersection and chanted slogans against the gas tariff hike.

While addressing a rally at Paltan intersection around 1:30 pm, LDA coordinator Mosharraf Hossain Nannu said a fresh hike in the gas price will also push up the prices of essential commodities, industrial products and electricity.

Such price increase will put burden on the middle and low-income people, he added.

Mr Nannu said, "If the government doesn't lower the price immediately, we will lay siege to the power, energy and mineral resources ministry on July 14."

LDA will also organise a rally in front of the National Press Club on the same day to press home their demand.

If the government doesn't meet the demand, left parties will come up with tougher programmes, he warned.

The left parties called the hartal from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm as Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) raised the gas price on July 01.

As per the new tariff structure, household users will have to pay Tk 975 instead of Tk 800 for double burner while Tk 925 instead of Tk 750 for single burner per month.

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