LDA to lay siege to energy ministry on July 14

The Left Democratic Alliance would lay siege to the ministry of power, energy and mineral resources on July 14 demanding withdrawal of the decision to increase prices of gas, leaders of the alliance announced after their eight-hour hartal ended on Sunday.

The alliance coordinator Mosharrof Hossain Nannu, also the secretary of United Communist League, announced the prgramme at a rally at Paltan crossing in Dhaka. He also thanked the countrymen for observing the strike in a peaceful manner.

The alliance would also go out on demonstrations at district headquarters on July 14, he announced.

The alliance would also organise representative meeting on July 19 in Dhaka to announce non-stop agitation programme if the government failed to withdraw the hiked price by the day.

The eight-hour countrywide strike enforced by the alliance from 6:00am and 2:00pm protesting against the recent gas price hike passed off peacefully without any major untoward incident.

Supporters of the strike brought out processions at 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 areas in Dhaka where the strikers took possessions.

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, the 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 at 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 organisations, 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 their 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.

Meanwhile, the participants blocked road for about half an hour in front of National Press Club until 9:30am.

In Khulna, police raided the Khulna district and city unit office of Communist Party of Bangladesh early Sunday and did not allow the strike supporters to bring out any procession from the office, New Age correspondent reported from the district.

LDA also brought out processions in Rajshahi and Gaibandha, reports received from the districts said.

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.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net