Leftists are theorists: Muhith

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Wednesday said that the decision of the leftist parties to call a nationwide shutdown protesting fuel price hike reflects their inexperience in running a democratic state.

“It’s usual that the leftist parties will observe hartal as they don’t know how the state is run,” he told reporters at his Secretariat office.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) and the Gonotantrik Bam Morcha (left-leaning alliance) on Wednesday called a nationwide six-hour shutdown for Jan 16 in protest against fuel price hike.

Muhith said, “The Left parties are observing hartal...we aren’t surprised at it. They go by theories.”

The BNP-led 18-Party Alliance also observed a countrywide dawn-to-dusk shutdown on Jan 6 protesting the fuel price hike.

“But how the BNP observed hartal? They had raised fuel oil prices by 137 percent when they were in power, while it has been increased by only 40 percent during our regime,” the Finance Minister said.

Defending the petroleum price hike, he said, “Fuel oil prices are increased in all the neighbouring countries whenever prices rise in the international market ... we also give subsidies in the sector. So, it’s nothing but madness to protest or observe shutdown against it (fuel oil price hike).”

Muhith was talking to reporters after attending two meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, and the Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement.

On Jan 3, the government increased the prices of diesel and kerosene by Tk 7 a litre, and octane and petrol by Tk 5 a litre to reduce its subsidy burden.

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