Non-stop agitation if energy prices hiked: BNP

The BNP-led 20-party alliance on Sunday threatened to announce a non-stop nationwide protest programmes if gas and power tariffs are hiked as per the government’s move. ‘Non-stop programmes will be thrown from the day the prices of power and gas will be raised,’ said BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. He issued the threat at a press briefing after a secretary general-level meeting of the 20-party alliance at BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan in the city. Mirza Alamgir, however, did not explain the nature of the programmes, saying it will be informed later. Mentioning that the 20-party is against the government’s decision of increasing gas and power tariffs, he demanded the government shelve its plan. The BNP leader said the government is trying to increase the gas and power tariffs in staggered phases to plunder public money and indulge in corruption further, according to a news agency.