BNP stages countrywide demo protesting at commodity price hike

Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Monday staged countrywide protests against price hike of onion, rice and other daily essential commodities.

 

The police, however, foiled BNP rally over the issue in Narayanganj city and detained one from the spot in the afternoon.

The party held the protests as per Saturday’s party standing committee decision against the backdrop of severe price hike of Onion that reached at Tk 250 a kg, at least seven times higher than the price in mid-September and the price hike of rice by Tk 5-8 in the past two weeks.

BNP leaders at rallies and processions alleged that ruling Awami League’s syndicate was responsible for the price hike to extract common people’s money.

They blamed lack of governance and accountability of what they termed ‘unelected government’ for the price hike.

They demanded resignation of the commerce minister for his failure to arrest price hike and to provide the daily essentials at fair pieces.

They also demanded identifying the syndicate members, bringing them to justice and ensuring exemplary punishment for them.

In Dhaka, all the thana units under Dhaka south and Dhaka north city BNP brought out separate processions in their respective areas.

In Narayanganj, police barred two processions to join the rally organised by city and district BNP units near Narayanganj Press Club, snatched banners from them and dispersed them by chasing, New Age correspondent in the city reported.

Later, another procession of female activists led by city BNP general secretary ATM Kamal tried to join the rally and they were barred close to the rally venue.

ATM Kamal along with the party activists sat down on the road immediately when police tried to oust them from the spot when BNP activists became agitated and locked in altercation.

At one stage, police chased the participants, dispersed them and detained city religious affairs secretary Shahriyar Chowdhury Iman.

Inspector (operation) Abdul Hai of Sadar police station said that police detained one of those who had been trying to hold a rally hindering people’s movement.

Demos were also held in Khulna, Barishal, Sirajganj and Moulvibazar, according to reports received from the districts said.

Liberal Democratic Party president Oli Ahmed, in a press conference at National Press Club in Dhaka protesting against commodity price hike, alleged that the government had utterly failed to protect the people’s rights and to keep commodity prices under control.

He demanded immediate resignation of the government.

Jatiya Smajtantrik Dal-JSD led by ASM Abdur Rob also formed a human chain in front of National Press Club in the city and brought out a procession in the afternoon protesting against the price hike.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net