Staff Reporter :
Left-leaning parties on Sunday observed a half-day strike protesting against the hike in gas prices.
Supporters of the Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) took position at key points of the capital in the morning. They tried to obstruct vehicle movement in various places but there was no report of any untoward incident.
Shutdown supporters also brought out processions in the city’s Paltan and Mirpur areas and held rallies.
The LDA announced the shutdown programme on July 1, a day after gas prices were raised.
Its protest programme was endorsed by political parties such as the BNP, Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gonoform and ASM Abdur Rab-led Jatiya Samjtantrik Dal.
The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports also expressed solidarity with the shutdown.
On June 30, the government raised gas prices by 32.8 percent on average for the retail consumers in the country with effect from July 1.Supporters of the strike brought out processions at different places, including Shahbagh intersection, Paltan intersection, Kakrail and in front of National Press Club in the capital and took possession there forcing vehicles to become standstill or use alternative roads.
Severe traffic congestions were created in different parts of the city where the strikers took possession.
A good number of policemen were seen deployed at the key points of the capital.
Though presence of vehicles on the roads was thin in the morning, their number increased as time elapsed.
Senior leaders of LDA brought out a procession from Paltan intersection at about 6:30am that ended at the same place after parading Bijaynagar and Kakrail areas.
The strikers allegedly vandalised the window-glasses of a bus at Paltan intersection in the morning.
The strikers, at about 8:00am, barred movement of vehicles in Paltan and Bijaynagar areas, forcing traffic movement towards Gulistan, Sadarghat and Matijheel areas from Kakrail.
Police picked up at least two picketers from Paltan area at about 8:30am but released them after a while.
Over 100 leaders and activists of Pragatishil Chhatra Jote, a combine of left leaning student organisation, also brought out a procession from TSC area of Dhaka University at about 7:00am and marched towards Science Laboratory intersection via Shahbagh.
The procession came back to Shahbagh where the participants took position halting traffic in the surrounding areas. The protesters did not allow any public or private transport to pass through the intersection.
They demonstrated by burning tires and chanting slogans at Shahbagh.
Nagarik Oikya, that extended its support to the strike, brought out a procession from its office at Topkhana Road that paraded Paltan intersection, Dainik Bangla, National Press Club, Matshya Bhaban and ended at Purana Paltan intersection in the morning.
The participants of the procession also blocked road for about half an hour in front of the National Press Club until 9:30am.
In Khulna, police raided the Khulna district and city unit office of the Communist Party of Bangladesh early Sunday and did not allow the strike supporters to bring out any procession from the office.
The LDA supporters also brought out processions in Rajshahi and Gaibandha yesterday.
The LDA announced the shutdown programme on July 1, a day after the gas prices were raised.
On June 30, the government raised gas prices by 32.8 per cent on an average for the retail consumers in the country with effect from July 1.
