Three injured as cops charge batons on LDA protest rally

Three members of the Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) were allegedly injured after cops charged batons to disperse their protest rally against the rising cost of living at Shahbag junction on Thursday.

The Alliance enforced a half-day nationwide strike from 6am to 12pm in protest against the rising prices of fuel, fertilisers and daily essentials.

“We were marching towards Shahbag intersection from the Banglamotor area peacefully when around 50 policemen, led by Assistant Deputy Commissioner (Ramna zone) Harun-or-Rashid, swooped on us all of a sudden, injuring three of our activists,” said Rajib Kanti, president of the Chhatra Front’s Dhaka University (DU) unit.

The injured LDA activists are currently undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), he added.

However, Rajib claimed that their strike was successful as many common people had joined the procession.

Student organizations, backed by left-leaning political parties, were seen observing their pre-announced protest program at Dhaka University, and in Elephant Road, Banglamotor, Katabon, Nilkhet and New Market areas in support of the half-day strike.

The LDA activists started a procession from the DU campus, which culminated in Paltan.

In an abrupt move, the government increased the prices of diesel, octane and petrol by 42.5%, 51.7% and 51%, respectively, on August 5.

Currently, diesel is being sold at Tk114 per litre, octane at Tk135 per litre and petrol at Tk130 per litre, pushing up the prices of all essential items.

On August 17, the country's main opposition BNP extended its support to the LDA’s strike.

Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the announcement at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.