Staff ReporterPolice have foiled an attempt of the three left parties to lay siege to the Secretariat protesting the government’s decision to increase gas and electricity prices.Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) and Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB) arranged the siege programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club. They gave a seven-day ultimatum to the government to withdraw the recently hiked prices for power and gas.”If our demands were not met within seven days, stern movement would be launched against the government soon,” the leaders warned the government.The protesters will launch tougher movement if the government fails to meet their demand, they said.”The prices are increased at such a time when oil prices are already low internationally and those who generate electricity and distribute gas are cashing profit, therefore this move by the government is illegal,” BSD General Secretary Khalequzzaman told reporters.”Transport fares and prices of daily commodities will go up as the tariff hikes take effect, which is inhumane,” Khalequzzaman said. At a stage, the activists brought out a procession towards the Secretariat, police placed barricade in front of gate no 5 of the Secretariat around 11:45am.Obstructed, the activists held another rally in front of the barricade and announced an end to their Monday’s programme with threats for forging tougher movement in protest of the hike of utility prices.Earlier on Thursday, the prices of electricity and gas were hiked by 2.93 percent and 26.29 percent respectively on an average that will be effective from September 1.The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the increased prices of electricity and gas in a press conference in the afternoon on the day.According to the new prices, the gas supplied to single-burner stoves in households will cost Tk 600 a month and for double-burners, customers will be charged Tk 650.After hiking the prices, the CNG at refuelling stations will also become dearer with a Tk-5-rise to Tk 35 per cubic metre. Earlier, the concerned officials said the hikes will come into effect from September 1. Since 2009, the BERC has increased power tariffs six times.
