Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka City South unit brought out the procession in the capital’s Kamalapur on Saturday.
Its Dhaka City South unit secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud said the government has increased the fuel price abnormally to continue and cover up its corruption and looting.
Bangladesh’s retail fuel prices have been hiked to levels not seen since the country’s independence in 1971, he says.
The ruling Awami government on Friday night hiked the fuel prices by up to 51.7 per cent, the Jamaat leader said.
The Jamaat leader made the remarks at the rally protesting the abnormal fuel price hike.
The activists of Jamaat brought out a procession in the area which paraded the important streets.
City Assistant Secretaries Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin, Kamal Hossain and Dr. Abdul Mannan, among others, were present at the demonstration.
After bringing out the procession, Dr Masud, while addressing the public, said that the government has increased the gas tariff at consumer level to “inflict suffering” on the people.
“We strongly protest and condemn this unfair decision made by the government, ” he said.
He urged the government to revoke the fuel hike decision for the benefit of the common people.
Otherwise his party – together with the masses – will wage a strong street movement, Dr Masud warned.
He said, “In the past, the government has paid Tk 70,000 crore in the name of quick rental to meet the country’s electricity shortage, but now the country is going through massive load shedding. The government should immediately withdraw the decision and keep fuel prices stable. Otherwise, the government will have to face public anger.”
Due to the increase in the price of fuel, people’s lives will suffer greatly. In addition to the doubling of transportation costs, the price of daily necessities will go beyond the affordability of common people, Dr. Shafiqul said.
“There will be instability in the transport sector. Industrial production will be disrupted, resulting in increased dependence on imports. On the one hand, the pressure on the national economy will increase due to the increase in import costs. Unemployment problem will be more pronounced”, he said.
He strongly demanded immediate withdrawal of this increased price of fuel.
Dr. Masud also said that Jamaat-e-Islami talks about the rights of the people protesting the undemocratic decisions of the government on the streets.
As a result, this fascist government continued to oppress the leaders and workers of Jamaat, he mentioned.
He firmly declared that the voice of Jamaat-e-Islami cannot be suppressed by torture.
He immediately demanded the release of Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, assistant Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan, ATM Azharul Islam, Allama Delwar Hossain Saeedi and all the arrested leaders and activists.
At the same time, he demanded the withdrawal of all unjust, unreasonable and undemocratic decisions taken by the government, including the increase in the price of fuel oil.
Otherwise, the people of the country will force this illegitimate government to step down through mass protests on the streets, he stated.
He urged everyone to play a united role in the movement to establish the fair rights of the people.
