Streets bear little sign of left parties' strike
Traffic came to a halt from Naya Paltan to Kakrail, and from Press Club to Motijheel.
Left activists gathered under the banner of Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) in the capital’s Purana Paltan on Sunday as the half-day strike protesting the recent gas price hike is underway.
They assembled there around 11:30am in support of the countrywide strike.
Traffic came to a halt from Naya Paltan to Kakrail, and from Press Club to Motijheel.
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The BNP supports the strike but none of its leaders was seen out on the street in the capital.
Law enforcement officials are on alert in the capital to prevent any unwanted situation. Additional police forces have been deployed in different areas.
“We have not heard of any unrest anywhere. The strike is going on peacefully,” said Mishu Biswas, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police of Paltan zone.
"Traffic situation is usual and we are fully prepared if anything goes wrong", he added.
Earlier, LDA supporters brought out processions in the capital’s Paltan and Mirpur areas in the morning.
The LDA announced the shutdown programme on July 1, a day after gas prices were raised.
The programme was endorsed by parties such as the BNP, Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gano Forum and ASM Abdur Rab-led Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.
The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports also expressed solidarity with the protest.
On June 30, the government raised gas prices by 32.8 percent on average for retail customers with effect from July 1.
