Jamaat ameer alleges gas, power shortages being created to justify price hikes

Jamaat-e-Islami ameer and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman has alleged that artificial shortages of gas and electricity are being created to justify planned tariff hikes, accusing the government of placing additional financial pressure on the public instead of addressing the underlying problems.

"If the shortages can be resolved after increasing prices, why can't they be resolved without raising tariffs? This amounts to deceiving the people," he said while addressing a rally at the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka today (5 August), marking the second anniversary of the July Mass Uprising that toppled the Sheikh Hasina government.

Rejecting claims that the July uprising had a single "mastermind", he said the movement was driven by "thousands of oppressed people" and that its success belonged to the entire nation, while credit for its leadership should go to the country's students and young people.

"There should be no competition over who deserves credit," he said.

The Jamaat chief paid tribute to those who were killed, injured, imprisoned, forcibly disappeared or subjected to torture, as well as what he described as politically motivated cases, between 28 October 2006 and 5 August 2024. He said their sacrifices would never be forgotten.

He also said those killed during the movement belonged to the nation rather than any political party. He called for advanced medical treatment and rehabilitation for the injured, state recognition for the families of the victims, and the swift completion of trials over the killings.

Urging the government to take sincere steps to meet public expectations, he alleged that the administration had failed to effectively rein in soaring commodity prices, the energy crisis and public suffering, arguing that people were being burdened with additional costs instead of receiving relief.

Warning against any return to authoritarian rule, he said Jamaat would continue to mobilise people wherever their rights were undermined, or they faced injustice and repression.

"We will not allow fascism to return to Bangladesh," he said, adding that governments must respect the people's mandate or face consequences similar to those witnessed in the past.

Other leaders attending the rally also criticised the government and demanded implementation of the outcome of the proposed referendum, democratic reforms, justice for those killed during the July movement, and uninterrupted access to essential services, including gas and electricity.

They also called for an end to corruption, tender manipulation and land grabbing, while urging the government to prioritise public welfare and uphold democratic principles.