Staff Reporter :The BNP-led 20-party alliance has decided to call non-stop countrywide hartal if the government hikes the price of gas and power from January next. The decision was taken at a secretary-general level meeting of the alliance held at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office in the city on Sunday. BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir chaired the meeting. After the meeting, Mirza Fakhrul addressed a press briefing at the office. He said that, they knew that the government has decided to increase the price of gas and power from January 1. If the decision is implemented, the 20-party alliance will launch tougher action programme, including non-stop hartal from the day of price hike. The BNP leader criticised the Awami League government for increasing the price of gas and power frequently. The government is involved in looting in the power sector in the name of quick rental plant. So, it increases the price of gas and power in several times in the past, he alleged. He informed that BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will address a rally at Kanchpur in Narayanganj on December 13 to drum up public support in favour their demands, including the demand of fresh election under a non-party government system. Top leaders of the other partners of the alliance will also address the rally, he added. The 20-party alliance in the meeting also discussed to turn the movement of price hike into a decisive anti-government movement gradually that will ultimately ensure downfall of the government.M Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, secretary general of Bangladesh NAP, who also attended the meeting, said that they would not come back from the street if they launch action programme on the issue of price hike.
