Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and left leaning parties have protested the decision of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to hike the price of electricity at retail consumer level by 6.96 per cent on average with retrospective effect from March 1.
Leaders of the BNP and some left leaning parties on Friday protested price hike of electricity at retail consumers level. They termed the decision as ‘unacceptable, unjust and anti-people’. The decision, they said, would have effect the low income people
Leaders of the BNP, Democratic Left Alliance (combine of eight left parties) Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Socialist Party of Bangladesh and Ganasanghati Andolan have drawn up separate programme at the upazila and district levels.
BNP will hold protest rallies at all divisional cities, districts and upazila towns on Saturday, said BNP
joint-secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press conference on Friday in the capital.
Meanwhile, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhru Islam Alamgir at a discussion at the National Press Club termed the decision against the interest of the people. ‘People are already burdened with repeated increase in power price but the government has again increased the price to add to the sufferings of the people, he said. The price hike would affect the living cost and inflation.
CPB and SPB will jointly hold a protest programmes in front of National Press Club today (Saturday). Meanwhile, on Friday in front of the National Press Club, the CPB Presideent Mujahidul islam Salim criticized the government and demanded withdrawal of the power hike, saying the decision would hit the common people only and to pave the way for looting through quick rental, they said.
Ganasanghati Andolan would hold a protest programme in front of National Press Club today(Saturday).
Meanwhile, National committee to protect oil, gas, mineral resources, power and ports will hold a discussion on Rampal power plant, amended PSC (Production Sharing Contract) 2012 and price hike of power at Mukti Bhaban ( today ) Saturday morning.
Jamaat-e-Islam will hold protest rally on Sunday. A statement issued by the party’s central committee said, the increase of power price is illogical and hence it should be rescinded.
