The left political platform, Gonotantrik Bam Morcha (Left Democratic Alliance) has called a half-day nationwide general strike in protesting the latest gas price hike on early Sunday.
The nationwide strike will be observed from 6am to 2pm.
We are set to move in streets throughout the country peacefully against the irrational hike in gas price, Zonayed Saki, a key leader of the alliance and chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon told Barta24.com.
Terming the recent hike in gas price by the government as a decadent step against people, He said, “People shouldn’t be mocked, the recent hike is just a way to make countrymen suffer. We do stand against such irrational move and demanding to scrap the decision immediately.”
BNP, Gano Forum, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP) and other political opposition groups have already thrown their weight behind the general strike.
The government raised the price of gas from Jul 1, in eight categories—including that of household users—despite persistent opposition from consumer rights groups.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) made a fresh announcement, the new weighted average prices of gas at the consumer level is Tk 9.8 per cubic foot, a 32.8 % increase from Tk 7.38.
According to the announcement, a single gas burner will cost Tk 925 per month instead of Tk 750 while the price of the double burner will rise to Tk 975 from Tk 800.