DHAKA: Jamaat-e-Islami has declared nationwide demonstrations on Sunday protesting the government’s decision of power price hike by 6.96 percents.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman, acting secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has issued a statement about this matter.

He said domestic economy as well as the development activities will be hampered seriously due to government’s unlawful, unjustified and irrational decision of power price hike by 6.96 percent in retail consumer level.

According to him, this decision is totally against the public interest.

Prior to the price hike, the authorities concerned have committed a farce with the people in the name of public hearing. In that hearing none had recommended for increasing power price. But defying the views, the government has decided to hike the power price, he added.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman added the power price hike decision of the government will increase the production cost of the commodities.

Subsequently, price of the essential items will be increased many times. The power consuming cost and house rent will also be increased as well. So the public sufferings will be intensified as a whole, the statement added.

Jamaat’s acting secretary general further said that the power price hike initiative once again proved that the incumbent government is not interested to ensure welfare of the people.

They want to stay in power by exploiting people, Rahman said.

‘This is not a publicly elected government. So naturally they do not bother at the public sufferings,” the Jamaat leader also said.

BDST: 1246 HRS, MAR 15, 2014