Dhaka, July 02 – The BNP on Tuesday staged peaceful demonstrations and brought out processions at district and city levels across the country protesting the increase of gas prices and demanding release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Speaking the demonstrations, the opposition leaders termed the government decision of increasing the gas prices anti-people and demanded not to execute the decision.
The leaders warned that they would launch a tougher street movement if the government does not scrap the decision of gas price hike.
The BNP leaders also demanded the release of the party’s ailing Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is serving a 17-year term in two graft cases on bail.
This is the first time, the opposition BNP observed countrywide agitation as part of its issue-based movement after December 30 parliamentary elections.
Our correspondents from different cities and districts report of holding a peaceful demonstration and bringing processions by BNP at the respective city and district.
In Dhaka, the BNP and its front organizations staged demonstrations and brought out processions at thana level.
Dhaka south city unit of BNP and its front organizations brought out a procession from in front of the party central office at 12:00noon.
The procession led by party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Dhaka south general secretary Kazi Abul Bashar paraded Naya Paltan VIP and it was terminated in front of the party central office after moving around from Kakrail Nightingale intersection.
Speaking at a brief rally at Bijoynagar intersection, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that the government increased the gas prices to impose a heavy burden on people’s shoulders.
“We strongly condemn and protest the illegal decision of the government and not to execute the prices hike and consumers level,” he said.
He said the BNP is determined to wage a strong movement taking people with it if the government does not scrap its decision of increasing gas prices.
The BNP leader also demanded the unconditional release of former premier and withdrawal of all false cases filed against party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman who is now living in London in self-exile.
BNP leaders- Habibul Islam Habib, Yunus Mridha, Nabiullah Nabi, Mosharraf Hossain Khokan, Mir Hossain Miru, among others, joined the procession.
Our Chattagram Bureau said the city unit of BNP staged a demonstration in front of its office at Nosimon Bhaban in the city demanding cancellation of the gas price hike. City BNP president Shahadat Hossain, general secretary Abu Bakar and vice president Abu Sufian, among others, spoke on the occasion.
In Barishal, the district BNP staged a demonstration at Town Hall Chattar with its president Ebadul Haque Chan in the chair. Barishal city unit of BNP separately organized a demonstration in from of its office with city vice president Moniruzzaman Faruk in the chair.
Our Rajshahi Bureau said the city BNP brought out a procession in front of its office at Malopara in the morning. City BNP president Mosaddeq Hossain Bulbul and general secretary Shafiqul Haque led the procession. – Staff Reporter
