Strike underway protesting gas price hike

Staff Correspondent: Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) are observing a half-day strike protesting the government’s decision of hiking gas prices.

The strike began at 6:00am on Tuesday in the capital’s Paltan area.

Terming the hike of gas prices as anti-people and illogical, the leaders of the two parties protested the decision taken by the government.

Leaders of the two parties alleged that the government has taken the decision to hike the gas prices to implement its ill motive.

According to a press release issued by the two parties, the government has declared to hike the price of gas illogically. Communist Party of Bangladesh and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal called a half-day strike protesting the government’s decision of hiking gas prices from 6:00am to 12:00pm on February 28.

Meanwhile, a good number of law enforcers have been deployed at Shahbagh and Paltan area in the capital to prevent any untoward incident following the strike.

Earlier on February 24, the CPB and BSD leaders in a joint press conference called the strike at CPB’s office in the capital’s Paltan.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission on February 23 raised gas prices by 22.7 per cent for all consumers.

Prices of household connections will be increased to Tk 750 for single burner and Tk 800 for double burners from March 1.

At present gas price for single burner is Tk 600 and for double burners Tk 650.

risingbd/DHAKA/Feb 28, 2017/Asad/Amirul