LDA's half-day hartal over price hike on Monday

The Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) will enforce a nationwide half-day hartal Monday to protest the soaring prices of edible oil, other essential commodities and utility services.

The shutdown will begin at 6am and continue until 12pm, said LDA leaders at a press conference in the city's Purana Paltan.

Saiful Haque, coordinator of the LDA, urged people of all walks of life to make the strike successful with their spontaneous support.

He also called upon the government to refrain from any kind of provocation.

The alliance already distributed several lakh leaflets and put up posters on the walls in support of the hartal.

It also carried out massive mass campaigns and held rallies across the country, drumming up support for the strike.

"People showed overwhelming response to our call for a strike during the campaigns. A kind of spontaneity has been noticed among people irrespective of their party affiliation," Saiful said.

He alleged that the ruling party activists and police obstructed their campaigns and attacked their supporters without any provocation at different parts of the country.

"I would like to make it clear to all concerned, including the law enforcement agencies, that we want to observe this hartal peacefully in support of the people. We hope no one provokes us during our strike action," the LDA leader said.

The government and the ruling party will be held responsible if any untoward incident happens due to any kind of provocative act during the hartal hours.

Saiful said the senior leaders of LDA will take positions in important places of the capital, including Purana Paltan area, and join picketing at 6am.

"The hartal will be successful with the support of the people. People of all walks of life – the commoners, shop owners, employees, transport owners, transport workers – should come forward to make this programme a success," he added.

On March 11 last, the LDA called a nationwide half-day hartal protesting the increasing prices of utility services and daily commodities such as edible oil, rice, lentil and onion.