Scrap decision to hike power tariff immediately: BNP

BNP Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu has warned that his party will take to the streets together with people if the government does not cancel its decision to hike power tariff, reports UNB.

"The tariff of electricity has been increased again. It's an anti-people decision of the government. We'll protest against this on January 16 in cities and upazilas across the country," he said.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while speaking at a human chain programme, organised by Democracy Forum, a pro-opposition platform, in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the city on Friday, protesting a court order to confiscate movable and immovable property of BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman in a corruption case.

The BNP leader said the decision to raise the power tariffs must be withdrawn immediately. "Otherwise we'll wage a movement together with people against the government. We'll not pay electricity bills in the coming days and people will stop paying the electricity bills."

The government on Thursday hiked the retail tariff of electricity by 5 per cent effective from January.

The electricity tariff was hiked at retail level last time in February 2020.

Bulu alleged that the court passed the order to confiscate the property of Tarique and his wife at the behest of the government to divert people's attention to a different direction. "This regime has been suffering from the fear of Tariq Rahman."

He said the people no longer want to see the Awami League government in power due to its misrule.

"The BNP and other political parties have started a simultaneous movement to establish a government of people ousting the current autocratic one, he said.