At least five were injured as protesters braved police obstructions for staging sit-in across the country on Saturday, protesting against the decisions of gas price hike and the installation of power plants threatening the Sunderbans.
National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources, Power and Ports organised the protests from where it extended support to
the half-day strike for Tuesday called by left leaning political parties for cancellation of the recent gas price hike.
The committee also announced that it would present a master-plan on energy and power management on March 18, revealing how people could get access to energy and power without paying more and having their livelihood and environment destroyed.
The committee has been opposing the government’s decision to set up a power plant at Rampal near the Sunderbans for about six years. The Saturday’s sit-in programme came as a part of that.
Police attacked a procession of protesters who were marching towards Chittagong press club in front of which the sit-in was scheduled to be started at 11:00am, reports New Age correspondent in Chittagong.
Executive member of the committee Hasan Maruf Rumi alleged that police charged baton on peaceful participants in an attempt to foil the programme.
He identified the injured as Bangladesh Chhatra Faderation Chittagong city unit president Shawkat Ali, its secretary Kamal Hossain Robin, two activists Maruf Hossain and Ajay Das and Chittagong University unit secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam.
Chittagong Kotwali police station sub-inspector Bikash Chandra Shil denied the allegation, but admitted that a scuffle took take place between the cops and the protester when they tried to block road in front of the press club. Police did not interrupt after they moved to a side of the road and held the programme there, he said.
In Dhaka, member secretary of the national committee Anu Muhammad alleged that police tried to prevent people from participating in the protests at places across the country.
‘Police tried in vain to prevent protesters from staging sit-in in Khulna,’ he said.
‘The government has resorted to creating a scary atmosphere all over the country as it is afraid that the protests that promises to save country’s resources, environment and lives of millions may attract many,’ he added.
He alleged that Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission staged a farce by deciding to increase the gas prices even after public hearing on the matter proved that the proposal for the price hike lacked a logical ground.
Representatives of different socio-political parties, artistes, academics, and professionals participated in the sit-in staged in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.
They blamed corruption for pushing gas prices up as oil price in the international market maintained a low trend for sometimes.
They vowed to continue their protests until government cancelled the Rampal power plant installation project and reduce gas prices.
National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources, Power and Ports organised the protests from where it extended support to
the half-day strike for Tuesday called by left leaning political parties for cancellation of the recent gas price hike.
The committee also announced that it would present a master-plan on energy and power management on March 18, revealing how people could get access to energy and power without paying more and having their livelihood and environment destroyed.
The committee has been opposing the government’s decision to set up a power plant at Rampal near the Sunderbans for about six years. The Saturday’s sit-in programme came as a part of that.
Police attacked a procession of protesters who were marching towards Chittagong press club in front of which the sit-in was scheduled to be started at 11:00am, reports New Age correspondent in Chittagong.
Executive member of the committee Hasan Maruf Rumi alleged that police charged baton on peaceful participants in an attempt to foil the programme.
He identified the injured as Bangladesh Chhatra Faderation Chittagong city unit president Shawkat Ali, its secretary Kamal Hossain Robin, two activists Maruf Hossain and Ajay Das and Chittagong University unit secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam.
Chittagong Kotwali police station sub-inspector Bikash Chandra Shil denied the allegation, but admitted that a scuffle took take place between the cops and the protester when they tried to block road in front of the press club. Police did not interrupt after they moved to a side of the road and held the programme there, he said.
In Dhaka, member secretary of the national committee Anu Muhammad alleged that police tried to prevent people from participating in the protests at places across the country.
‘Police tried in vain to prevent protesters from staging sit-in in Khulna,’ he said.
‘The government has resorted to creating a scary atmosphere all over the country as it is afraid that the protests that promises to save country’s resources, environment and lives of millions may attract many,’ he added.
He alleged that Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission staged a farce by deciding to increase the gas prices even after public hearing on the matter proved that the proposal for the price hike lacked a logical ground.
Representatives of different socio-political parties, artistes, academics, and professionals participated in the sit-in staged in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.
They blamed corruption for pushing gas prices up as oil price in the international market maintained a low trend for sometimes.
They vowed to continue their protests until government cancelled the Rampal power plant installation project and reduce gas prices.
source: New Age
