Sit-in Tuesday against move to raise power tariff

Left-leaning political parties will stage a sit-in in front of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Tuesday in protest against the government move to raise electricity tariff at the retail level. The announcement came from joint protest rallies in front of the National Press Club on Monday afternoon. Leaders of the left parties said Gano Sanghati Andolon (GSA) will observe the sit-in programme on Tuesday, the first day of the public hearing on tariff hike proposal, while an alliance of Communists Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) will jointly stage a sit-in on Wednesday, the second day of the hearing. Apart from the agitations, they will also participate in a public hearing to register their protest officially against the power price hike move. “The Sheikh Hasina-led government has moved for raising power tariff only to benefit the owners of rental and quick rental power plants,” said CPB president Muzahidul Islam Selim while addressing the rally. In protest against the move, CPB-BSD alliance held a joint protest rally at the Press Club while another alliance of Nagarik Oikya (citizens unity) and Gono Forum formed a human chain on the same premises separately. The CPB rally was also addressed by BSD leader Khaliquzzaman, CPB leader Syed Abu Zafar, Ruhin Hossain Prince, and Bazlur Rashid Firoz while the human chain programme was addressed by convener of the Nagarik Oikya Mahmudur Rahman Manna. At both the programmes, the left leaders threatened to launch a tougher movement if power tariff is raised in any way, according to a news agency.