Jamaat protests fuel price hike, accuses government of creating ‘artificial crisis’

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami staged a protest in Dhaka’s Mohakhali on Monday against the latest fuel price increase, accusing the government of creating an “artificial crisis” to benefit vested interests.

Jamaat’s Dhaka North unit organised the rally and procession at 5pm near Mohakhali Rail Gate, in front of the Cholera Hospital.

Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, addressing the demonstration as chief guest, said the government had raised fuel prices three times within six months.

“This government has increased fuel prices three times within six months,” Zubair said. “The first time, there were long queues at filling stations.”

He said the shortage persisted until the opposition sought to raise the issue in parliament.

“Within three days, all the problems disappeared. The crisis at the filling stations ended,” he said. “This showed that an artificial crisis had been created to benefit a group of people with government support.”

Zubair said the fuel shortage and higher prices were feeding into broader economic pressures.

“Because of this fuel crisis, commodity prices have increased, agriculture is facing a major disaster, and garments factories and other industries are heading towards closure,” he said.

He said the opposition leader had previously told parliament that an expert committee formed by the opposition was ready to work with the government to address the energy crisis.

“But there was no response from the government,” Zubair said.

Referring to the latest increase, he said: “Through a notification issued late at night, the largest fuel price increase in Bangladesh’s history was imposed last night.”

Zubair accused the government of being unwilling to accept assistance from the opposition and alleged that the price increase was intended to benefit ruling-party interests.

“The government has no intention of accepting any cooperation,” he said. “They were out of power for the past 17 years, so this conspiracy has been hatched to fill the pockets of party leaders and activists.”

The demonstration was chaired by Jamaat Central Executive Council member and Dhaka North Secretary Dr Muhammad Rezaul Karim.

Rezaul Karim broadened the criticism beyond fuel prices, accusing the government of failing to contain rising prices, corruption and deteriorating law and order during its first six months in office.

“Within six months, through the deterioration of law and order, rising commodity prices, and corruption, looting and anarchy across the country, what we are seeing does not look like a BNP government,” he said. “It looks like an extension of the previous fascist, autocratic Awami League government.”

He also cited the killings of children Achia, Ramisa and Apratim in criticising the government’s handling of law and order.

“The killings of children Achia, Ramisa and Apratim over the past six months mean that the home minister has lost the moral right to remain in office,” he said.

Rezaul Karim also demanded that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates be returned to Bangladesh to face trial.

“Our demand is clear. Killer Hasina and her associates must be brought back to the country, and the verdicts in their trials must be carried out by December,” he said.

He demanded immediate government action to bring down the prices of fuel, gas, fertiliser and other essential commodities.

“The prices of oil, gas, fertiliser and other essential commodities must immediately be brought under control. Otherwise, the government will have to relinquish power,” he said.

He then repeated a slogan used by protesters: “Give us oil, give us gas, or give up power.”

The programme was conducted by Jamaat Central Majlis-e-Shura member and Dhaka North Assistant Secretary Dr Fakhruddin Manik.

Central Majlis-e-Shura members and Dhaka North assistant secretaries Nazim Uddin Molla and Yasin Arafat also addressed the gathering.

Central Majlis-e-Shura members Ataur Rahman Sarkar, Jamal Uddin, Muhibullah and Nasir Uddin were among those present.

Speakers demanded that the government reverse the fuel price increase, bring commodity prices under control and improve the law-and-order situation.

The procession began in front of the Cholera Hospital in Mohakhali and ended at Nabisco.