Hartal supporters block Shahbagh intersection

Hartal supporters blocked the city’s Shahbagh intersection, hampering the movement of vehicles in the area on Sunday.

Left democratic alliance enforced a half-day hartal on the day protesting at the gas price hike. The strike starts at 6am and will continue till 2pm.

The government recently increased the gas price effective from 1 July.

The leaders and activists of LDA took position at Purana Paltan intersection around 7:00am, but started to oppose the movement of vehicles from 10:30am.

Police arrested Hazrat Ali, office secretary of Biplobi Sarak Paribhahan Sramik Federation. However, police released him after half an hour following protests from the leaders and activists of the agitating platforms.

Former student leader and member of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Liton Nandi alleged police are not letting them observe a peaceful strike across the country.

Leaders and activists of Progati Chhatra Jote started a procession from Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) and paraded different streets before reaching Shahbagh intersection via Science Laboratory. They stopped vehicles at the intersection.

Visiting different areas including the road in front of the National Press Club and Paltan, this correspondent found that the vechiles are plying on the streets like the other days.

Prothom Alo correspondent in Chattogarm, however, did not notice the eforcement of hartal in the port city.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) expressed their solidarity with the strike called by the left alliance.

The alliance said the price of gas has been raised illogically and it will increase the cost of living.