Dhaka, July 5 (UNB) – The BNP on Friday extended its moral support to a half-day hartal to be enforced across the country on July 7 protesting against the gas price hike.
The decision was taken at a meeting of BNP standing committee members at the party chief’s Gulshan office.
“We’re extending moral support to the July 7 hartal called by LDA’s parties,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters.
He said the BNP thinks the hartal was called for a valid reason as gas price hike has affected the people.
On Sunday, the government announced to raise the average gas price by 32.8 percent for the retail consumers effective from Monday.
As per the new price, household consumers having single burner will have to pay Tk925 a month instead of the existing Tk750 while the double-burner users will have to pay Tk975 instead of the existing Tk 800.
Protesting against the decision, the LDA on Monday announced a half-day hartal for July 7.
Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gonoform and ASM Abdur Rab-led JSD earlier extended support to the hartal.
“Our standing committee believes that the decision to hike gas price is illogical as it’ll have a negative impact on the market and the industries,” Fakhrul said.
