Calling the government move to raise power tariff as an absolute waywardness, BNP on Wednesday threatened to put up a strong resistance if the regime does not rescind its decision.
“The BNP-led 19-party alliance will build a strong resistance if the power tariff hike proposals by the Power Development Board are implemented,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir warned in a statement.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) held a three-day public hearing last week on power tariff hike proposals recently placed by five state-owned electricity distribution companies.
Fakhrul said the Awami League-led government imposed huge load of unusual electricity bills on the general consumers by increasing the power price in a number of phases since it assumed office in January, 2009.
“People close to the government have destroyed the power sector by plundering thousands of crore of taka in the name of setting up quick rental power plants. Now they’re hiking the power tariff for the ultra poor, lower middle-class and middle-class consumers,” he said.
Mentioning that the government instead of easing the sufferings of people is imposing the load of tax, the BNP spokesman said it seems that the government is out with its all-out efforts to make the poor hapless further and pauper.
He alleged that the current ‘illegal government’ is oblivious about people’s sufferings as it has no accountability to people. “They’re desperate and care little about anything.”
“The government is taking anti-people decisions one after another ignoring the interest of people as it has got completely isolated,” he added.
Earlier addressing a meeting of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Wednesday strongly criticized the government for its move to hike electricity prices
“Everything will get pricier as long as they will be in office, while people’s lives will keep on losing the value. So, change the government if you want the power tariff to fall,” he said.
He feared that the prices of each essential will go up if the power tariff is hiked. “This will only compound public sufferings. We’re against power tariff hike,” he said.
“Stop looting public money in the name of quick rental power plants and enhance your competence to check power pilferage,” he said pointing to the government. “Then you won’t have to raise the prices of power,” Nazrul said.
In protest against the move, CPB-BSD alliance held a joint protest rally in front of National Press Club while another alliance of Nagarik Oikya (citizens unity) and Gono Forum formed a human chain on the same premises separately
Meanwhile left-leaning political parties staged a sit-in in front of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) at Kawranbazar on Tuesday and Wednesday in protest against the government move to raise electricity tariff at the retail level.
The Gano Sanghati Andolon (GSA) observed the sit-in programme on Tuesday, the first day of the public hearing on tariff hike proposal, while an alliance of Communists Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) also jointly stage a sit-in on Wednesday, the second day of the hearing. The left democratic front also staged demonstration on Thursday.
Apart from the agitations, they also participated in a public hearing to register their protest officially against the power price hike move.
“The Sheikh Hasina-led government has moved for raising power tariff only to benefit the owners of rental and quick rental power plants,” said CPB president Muzahidul Islam Selim while addressing the rally on Wednesday.
The rally was also addressed by BSD leader Khaliquzzaman, CPB leader Syed Abu Zafar, Ruhin Hossain Prince, and Bazlur Rashid Firoz while the human chain programme was addressed by convener of the Nagarik Oikya Mahmudur Rahman Manna.
At both the programmes, the left leaders threatened to launch a tougher movement if power tariff is raised.
Source: Weekly Holiday
