The BNP has announced agitation programmes across Bangladesh on Friday in protest against the latest power tariff hike.
Earlier in the day, the government had announced an average 6.96 percent rise in the electricity price.
BNP’s spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government had pitted itself against the people through the move.Announcing the agitation, party’s Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the energy regulator’s public hearing was nothing but a ‘farce’.
“We believe the power price hike ignoring public opinion is a betrayal of the people,” he said.
Rizvi said the move would have a negative effect on Bangladesh’s economy.
“Agricultural and industrial production costs will rise leading to a hike in prices of essentials,” the BNP leader observed.
The BNP has said the government has gone against the people by increasing electricity prices, and asked for revoking the decision.
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the average 6.96 percent hike in power price on Thursday afternoon.
“This will increase the people’s suffering. We are condemning this decision,” said acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a discussion in the National Press Club.
“They are doing this to cover up the misappropriation of money of quick rental (power plants).”
Fresh polls
The Awami League, which the led Bangladesh’s struggle for independence, has deviated from the path, claimed Fakhrul.
“Their one-party rule has stripped the country of democracy,” he claimed.
About the general elections of Jan 5, he said, “Whatever happened has happened, now quickly hold fair polls. The election has to be held under a neutral government where all parties can participate.”
He criticised the arrest of BNP Standing Committee member Khandker Mosharraf Hossain on charges of money laundering pressed by the Anti Corruption Commission.
“The government is putting false cases against anyone who goes against it. Khandker Mosharraf Hossain has been taken on remand. I’ve never heard anyone being taken on remand for a case like this.”
About the decorations for T20 World Cup around Dhaka, he said, “All these lights and commotion are useless because there is no democracy in the country.” – bdnews24.com
