Oil-Gas committee vows to continue protest

Rehnuma Sultana
The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports at rally in front of the National Press Club on Monday condemned the police attack and vowed to continue the movement until its seven-point demand was met.

Speakers at the rally said about 50 leaders and activists of the committee were injured in Sunday’s police attack on the march towards the energy ministry. Police fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and charged baton on the peaceful march. The committee convener Sheikh Muhammad Shaheedullah asked the government to bring to book the police personnel responsible for the attacks on the marchers.

The committee to press its demands including withdrawal of latest power price hike effected from September 1, leaders said at the rally. The national committee will continue its movements until the increased power tariff was withdrawn and quick rental system cancelled. A select group of businessmen close to the government are benefitting from the quick rental plants at the cost of the people. The national committee will enforce agitation programmes, including hartal, siege and sit-in, to realise its demands, Shaheedullah said.

Communist Party of Bangladesh central leader Ruhin Hossain Prince said that their activist Arafatul Kabir Rizvi was seriously wounded in Sunday’s police action. 

Socialist Party of Bangladesh general secretary Khalequzzaman said that the national committee would continue its movement until the seven-point demand was fulfilled.

Ganasanghati Andolan coordinator Abdus Salam said frequent power price was adding to the sufferings of the people.

Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary Saiful Huq called on the government to withdraw increased power tariff immediately.

Workers Party leader Ragib Ahsan Munna, Democratic Revolutionary Party general secretary Mushrefa Mishu, Workers Party (Reconstituted) general secretary Abdus Satter, Samyabadi Dal leader Moshayed Ahmed, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal leader Mahiuddin Chaowdhury Liton, Jaitya Gana Front leaders Abu Taher and Shamsul Alam also spoke at the rally.

The rally was followed by a protest procession.