BNP slams govt for fuel price hike
The BNP yesterday alleged that the government "pickpocketed" the people twice, first by raising diesel and kerosene prices and then by hiking bus fares.
"When fuel prices dropped in the international market, the government did not cut the prices here. But as the prices are on the rise in the international market, the government has jumped to hike the prices in Bangladesh, which they could easily do after six months," said party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He said the government did it because "looting [public money] is in the character of the government".
Fakhrul also alleged that the transport strike, called to protest the hike in diesel and kerosene prices, was nothing but a drama staged jointly by the government and transport leader to increase bus fares. "They gained financial benefits out of it."
The bus and launch fares are now up by as much as 28 percent and 43 percent respectively, in the first manifestation of the impact the Tk 15 hike in diesel and kerosene prices will have on the cost of living for the poor and the middle-class.
The BNP leader was speaking at a human chain organised by the party's Dhaka south and north units in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the price hike.
He said poverty and people's suffering were increasing in the country. "They [the government] talk about development. We see pillars, flyovers and other developments with our bare eyes, but the common people are becoming poorer…"
Fakhrul said prices of all essentials would go up even further as an impact of the hike in the fuel prices, aggravating people's misery. "So, this protest against the hike should spread to all parts of the country.
"As long as the Awami League government is in power, public sufferings will keep increasing and people will become more helpless and poorer. So, we must get united, hit the street and oust this regime."
The BNP yesterday also announced a two-day demonstration programme in protest against the recent hike in diesel and kerosene prices.
As part of the programme, all metropolitan city units of BNP, except in Dhaka, will hold demonstrations and protest rallies tomorrow. It will hold similar programmes in all district towns on November 12.
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