Protesters scuffle with police

The Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Gonoforum and Nagorik Oikya stage a demonstration on Abdul Gani Road near the capital's Jatiya Press Club yesterday protesting the recent price hike of electricity. Photo: Star

The activists of eight leftist parties attempting to lay a siege to the energy ministry scuffled with police after being intercepted near Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday.
Several hundred activists of Gonotantrik Bam Morcha (GBM) were marching towards the secretariat to protest the recent power price hike when police intercepted them at Abdul Gani Road. After a brief scuffle, the protesters staged a sit-in at the spot.
Earlier in the day, activists of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Gonoforum, and Nagorik Oikya also attempted to demonstrate in front of the ministry, were intercepted by police, and staged a sit-in at the same spot.
The procession of GBM followed the demonstration of the four aforementioned parties.
The Energy Regulatory Commission on March 13 raised the electricity prices by 6.96 percent with effect from March 1.
For the protests, transport movement on the road remained suspended for about two hours and a half till around 1:00pm.