'Situation has grown more critical since the elected government came' — Asif Mahmud on price rises, 30 October mass protest announced
National Citizen Party (NCP) senior joint member secretary Md Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has said that after the election everyone had hoped, and repeatedly heard, that everything would be fixed. But since a democratically elected government came to power, the situation has become more critical than before, he said.
He made the remarks on Saturday (24 October) during a leaflet distribution and street rally at Karwan Bazar in the capital, where he sharply criticised the government over price rises and the law and order situation.
Asif Mahmud said that within seven to eight months of the government taking power, prices of daily essentials have almost doubled. The price of LPG gas has doubled, and electricity prices have also nearly doubled. He alleged the government has set a record for raising fuel prices the most in the shortest time.
He said people's suffering must be eased quickly, but the government shows no adequate initiative to solve these problems and there is negligence in carrying out its duties. He also commented that while the government and their children are busy with various businesses and other activities, they pay no heed to people's suffering.
He announced that a mass protest programme will be held on 30 October in protest against the country's current crisis, people's suffering, rises in essential commodity prices and the deterioration of law and order. The NCP's Dhaka metropolitan north and south branches will jointly organise the programme.
Asif Mahmud said public outreach has begun across the country ahead of the mass protest. Party workers will go to people in Dhaka and other parts of the country to hear about their suffering, and will also work to raise awareness on the issues.
He said the week-long outreach will end with the mass protest next Friday. The Karwan Bazar street rally was part of that outreach, with leaflets distributed to take the programme's message to ordinary people.
Price figures were central to his speech: alleging near-doubling of prices across essentials, LPG and electricity, he said the expectation that a democratic government would leave no problems unaddressed has not matched reality.
His remarks come as the NCP becomes active on the ground around the 30 October programme, with other party leaders also joining outreach the same day to criticise the government. Political pressure over prices and law and order may therefore intensify.
Attention now turns to the 30 October mass protest: after a week of outreach, it remains to be seen how much response the joint Dhaka metropolitan programme draws and whether the government responds.
