The Communist Party of Bangladesh and the Socialist Party of Bangladesh bring out a procession in Dhaka on Friday, protesting at the fuel price hike. — New Age photo

Different left parties from separate rallies and processions on Friday blasted the government for increasing prices fuel oil again.
They called on the government to cancel the price hike immediately, threatening tougher agitations including general strike.
The increase of the fuel prices for the sixth time by the present government would further aggravate the sufferings of the people, the left leaders said.
Communist Party of Bangladesh and Socialist Party of Bangladesh at a rally in front of the National Press Club declared that they would hold demonstrations in front of the deputy commissioner’s offices across the country with black flags on January 9.
CPB presidium member Haider Akbar Khan Rano, who chaired the rally, said that the government had increased the fuel price only to satisfy the International Monetary Fund.
The rally was addressed, among others, by the CPB central leader Ruhin
Hossain Prince and the SPB central leader Razequzzaman Ratan.
Democratic Left Alliance, a combine of the seven left leaning political parties, at a rally in front of the National Museum, also called on the government to cancel the decision immediately.
The coordinator of the combine, Zonayed Saki warned that they would announce tougher agitation programmes including general strike to compel the government to cancel the price hike of fuel oil.
‘We will announce the date for a general strike soon after consulting other left parties,’ Saki said.
The combine will hold countrywide weeklong mass contact programmes to drum up supports to its programmes.
The rally was addressed, among others, by combine leaders Mushrefa Mishu, Nazrul Islam, Abdus Salam, Mohammad Akhteruzzman and Hamidul Haque.
The rally was followed by a procession that paraded up to New Market.
Workers Party of Bangladesh, an ally of the Awami League-led ruling alliance, also held brought out procession, protesting at the increase of fuel price.
The leaders of the party called on the government to cancel the price hike.
The party politburo members Nurul Hasan, Fazle Hossain Badsha and Nur Ahmed Bakul led the procession that paraded through different city roads.
Jatiya Mukti Council president Badruddin Umar and general secretary Faiezul Hakim in a statement demanded immediate cancellation of the increase of the fuel oil prices.
The government has increased the price to satisfy the IMF, they said.
The Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary, Saiful Huq, also issued a statement condemning the government for increasing the fuel oil prices.