Gas price hike: Left parties enforcing half-day hartal

A half-day hartal has been enforced by the Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) across the country, including Dhaka city, to protest against the recent hike in gas tariffs.

A coalition of eight left-leaning political parties, the LDA started the shutdown from 6:00am today.

Around 9:00am, some protesters stopped a bus and broke its window glasses at Purana Paltan intersection, according to media reports.

Two of them were arrested by police only to be released 10 minutes later, the reports added.

The LDA leaders and activists took out a procession from Nightangle intersection and paraded around Purana Paltan, Zero Point and Press club areas. 

Afterwards, they took took position in the Purana Paltan section, creating traffic jam. However, they thinned out by 10:00am, leading to the smooth traffic movement.

The protesters again returned to the venue 15 minutes later, halting traffic movement at the busy intersection again.

A day after the government raised gas prices, the LDA on Monday last announced this shutdown for this day from 6:00am to 2:00pm. 

BNP, Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gonoform and ASM Abdur Rab-led Jatiya Samjtantrik Dal are among other parties that endorsed the programme.

The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports have also expressed solidarity with the protests programme.