Leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) have demanded an immediate reduction in electricity and fuel oil prices, accusing the government of deceiving the people by raising prices despite a global decline in fuel costs.
The demand came at a pre-procession protest rally organised by NCP Dhaka Metropolitan North on Thursday night, which started from Banglamotor and ended at the Intercontinental intersection.
Speaking at the rally, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said, “The government increased electricity and fuel oil prices just one month after saying it had no plan to raise prices for two years.”
“This government is actually a flip-flopping government. It says one thing in the morning, another at noon, and another at night. Where will the people go?” he asked.
Patwary also alleged that the IMF and World Bank are pushing the government to raise prices in exchange for a loan. “If you put pressure on my throat because you cannot generate funds, then a fight will ensue with you,” he warned.
NCP Senior Joint Convener and Metropolitan Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb said, “Tarique Rahman came to power by making promises to the people before the election, but after the election, he has resorted to deceiving the people.”
“This government is ‘Tarique Rahman’s government, the guardian of looting’,” Adeeb said, adding that while the government had stated electricity prices would not increase for two years, prices have risen by 16 percent within three months.
He also alleged that a former loan defaulter had been appointed to Bangladesh Bank and a person removed for corruption had been made chairman of an Islamic bank.
Jatiya Jubo Shakti President Tariqul Islam said the government is facilitating the filling of its leaders’ pockets by taking money from ordinary people. “The people will hold them strictly accountable for this deception. The government is mistaken if it thinks the people are fools.”
NCP Central Joint Member Secretary Zainal Abedin Shishir warned that if the NCP and the 11-party alliance step back from behind this government, “this government will collapse instantly.”
NCP Member Secretary and MP Akhtar Hossain, along with other central and metropolitan leaders, attended the protest procession.
