The Dhaka North unit of the National Citizen Party (NCP) on Saturday staged a human chain in the capital’s Karwan Bazar, in front of Hotel Sonargaon, protesting the severe gas shortage across Dhaka, the resulting public suffering and a proposal to raise gas prices.
Following the human chain, party leaders and activists marched to Petrobangla’s headquarters, where they held a sit-in.
The programme was attended by NCP Dhaka North Convener and mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation Ariful Islam Adib, leaders of the party’s metropolitan unit, activists from different police station and ward units, and numerous families affected by the gas crisis.
Speakers said residents of many parts of the capital have been enduring severe hardship for a prolonged period because of the gas shortage. Households have been unable to cook for days, transport services have been disrupted by shortages at CNG filling stations, and production at factories and industrial plants has been severely affected.
They said there was no justification for raising gas prices under such circumstances.
The speakers also called for swift and effective measures to explore and extract domestic gas by properly tapping the potential of gas blocks within Bangladesh’s maritime territory. They urged the government to ensure long-term planning, transparency and accountability in the energy sector to strengthen the country’s energy security.
They called on the prime minister and the energy adviser to take immediate and effective steps to resolve the crisis so that people no longer have to struggle to cook and no family is left without food or subjected to severe hardship because of the gas shortage. They also demanded the withdrawal of the proposed gas price increase.
Addressing the rally, NCP Dhaka North Convener Ariful Islam Adib said, “People will not accept an increase in gas prices when their basic rights have not been ensured. If gas prices are increased, the National Citizen Party will be compelled to announce a programme to lay siege to Petrobangla.”
Adib further said, “Petrobangla has submitted a proposal to the Energy Division to raise gas prices. If there is any attempt to implement this move, we will mobilise Dhaka residents and blockade the Petrobangla building.”
He warned, “If necessary, we will lay siege to the Petrobangla building and prevent officials from entering or leaving.”
Adib, the NCP’s mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation, said, “Because of the gas crisis, our sisters are unable to cook. In protest, they have joined today’s programme carrying empty pots and utensils. We are marching towards Petrobangla with these empty pots and utensils. If the gas crisis is not resolved quickly, we will launch a broader movement and force the energy adviser and others responsible to resign.”
Referring to recent attacks on the NCP allegedly carried out by BNP activists, Adib said, “The police sit helplessly in front of Chhatra Dal terrorists. Previously, Chhatra League terrorists joined forces with the police to attack opposition parties. Now, Chhatra Dal terrorists are carrying out attacks one after another in the presence of the police.
“They want to use attacks to keep the NCP away from programmes concerning the people. But the NCP has always stood on the streets for the people’s interests and on every issue affecting the public, and it will continue to do so.”
At the end of the programme, the NCP announced that it would continue peaceful and democratic protests until the people’s legitimate demands are met.
The rally was moderated by Md Nur Amin Khan, assistant organising secretary of the NCP’s Dhaka North unit.
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