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🇸🇬 Singapore /Energy & Infrastructure

Bangladesh opposition launches protest march over energy crisis

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

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Newswire From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Thousands of opposition supporters began a long march in Bangladesh on September 5 to protest shortages of cooking gas, electricity and fertiliser.
  • The mobilisation represents the first major street protest against Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government, which took office six months ago.
  • Opposition leaders accused the government of failing to provide essential supplies and limiting dissent after a student’s arrest over alleged insults toward senior officials.

Thousands of opposition supporters began marching across Bangladesh on September 5, turning shortages of cooking gas, electricity and fertiliser into the first major street challenge to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government.

The crowds gathered at a public square in Dhaka, waving banners and chanting slogans before setting out on the first stage of a march toward the port city of Chittagong. Rallies were planned along the route.

This movement is aimed at ensuring cooking gas and lighting up every household with electricity.

· Shafiqur RahmanThe opposition leader described the purpose of the march to supporters in Dhaka.

“This movement is aimed at ensuring cooking gas and lighting up every household with electricity,” opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman told supporters.

Bangladesh has been facing acute shortages, which the report partly links to the war in the Middle East. The crisis has also prompted questions about how the government has handled supplies in the country of 170 million people.

You have failed to supply gas, electricity, and fertiliser and are not allowing people to even speak up.

· Akhter HossenThe National Citizen Party opposition figure criticised the government during the rally.

The protest came one day after authorities arrested a college student who allegedly insulted senior government officials while expressing frustration over high electricity bills. Critics said the arrest showed growing intolerance of dissent.

“You have failed to supply gas, electricity, and fertiliser and are not allowing people to even speak up,” Akhter Hossen of the opposition National Citizen Party told the crowd. “You will face serious consequences.”

You will face serious consequences.

· Akhter HossenHossen warned the government while addressing the opposition crowd.
About this summary

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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