Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of seven political parties, has announced protest rallies in all districts of the country on January 25 as part of its ongoing movement against the government. Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan, General Secretary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), announced the new sets of programs from today’s demonstration in Dhaka, protesting electricity price hike. “January 25 is a scandalous day in the history of our politics. A one-party system (BaKSAL) was introduced on this day, and our democracy, freedom of the press, and voting rights were taken away,” he said. “We will hold protest rallies in all districts on that day to establish voting rights, a democratic regime, to save the people, and overthrow this illegal government,” he added. Around hundreds of leaders and activists from the alliance joined today’s demonstration. Saiful Haque, general secretary of Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party, said that Bangladesh would not have had to take a $4.5 billion IMF loan if “there were no corruption and looting over the last 14 years.” Also Read: Simultaneous Movement: Ganatantra Mancha brings out mass procession in Dhaka Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Ganasamhati Andolon, said there can be no election under the current government. “The BNP and other parties are also protesting. We will continue our fight to overthrow the government and establish voting rights,” he said. Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu, Mir Mofazzel Hossain, Habibur Rahman Habib of Bangladesh Bhasani Parishad, Hasnat Kayum, chief coordinator Rastra Songskar Andolon, and Shahidullah Kaiser, General Secretary of Nagarik Oikya, also spoke at today's demonstration. Also Read: Ganatantra Mancha unveils 14-point for simultaneous anti-govt movement The alliance of seven opposition parties was launched on August 8 last year with the objective to conduct a united movement against the government. The components of the alliance are: Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob), Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party, Ganasamhati Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bhasani Onusari Parishad, and Rastra Sangskar Andolon.  

Different student organisations including left leaning Bangladesh Students’ Federation staged rallies protesting the sudden rise in fuel prices in front of National Museum at Shahbagh on Saturday. BSF's procession started from in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh which rounded via Kantaban and ended in front of Bangladesh Students’ Federation’s central office in front of Hatitpul Bazar. Meanwhile, the progressive student alliance held a separate protest rally. Besides, some students staged a demonstration for one hour at Shahbagh intersection after failing to block the transports. The government on Friday night raised prices of diesel by Tk 34 per litre, octane by Tk 46 per litre and petrol by Tk 44 per litre. "Common people are already in hardship to cope with the rise of living cost. Government's looting of Public property and mismanagement led people toward this suffering,” the protesters said.  Read: Hamid looking to send load shedding back to museum by August-end "The illegal fascist government is increasing the price of fuel oil without maintaining any policy. Fuel is a strategic product which will affect the prices of electricity, agricultural products, bus fares and other services," BSF General Secretary Soikot Ali said. Moshiur Rahman, President of BSF, held the government's import policy responsible for the fuel crisis and said, "They adopted a short term policy to import for quick rental power plants instead of inventing its own gas fields and domestic resources. Price hike of the fuel oils will lead to increased bus fares and hamper food productions.” Faiz Ullah, President of Bangladesh Students Union, said,  "The government has been looting people’s pockets and joshing with the people in the name of mega projects without keeping any specific account of import and export." "Though the country has fallen in a bad state, the leaders of Awami League are getting richer. Those who could not eat fifteen years ago, have become owners of crores of taka by getting involved with the politics of Awami League," he added.

Multiple organisations staged protest rallies in front of National Museum at Shahbagh protesting communal attack on Hindu people of Narail around 4 pm Monday.Among the organisations were Jago Hindu Parishad, Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, Sammilito Samajik Andolon, Samajik Protirodh Committee. Besides, organisations like Narimukti Shangshad, Bangladesh Progoti Songho, Trade Union centre, Gonoshkhorota Ovizan, Action Aid Bangladesh, etc, came together under the banner of Shamajik Protirodh Committee.Fawzia Moslem, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad  headed the programme of Samajik Protirodh committee and  said t, "Our golden Bangladesh is floating in the tide of development, but the incident of Narail has shown that  we are falling as humans." Read: 4 killed in Habiganj road accident She said, "Not only the Narail incident, the incident in Ramu in 2012 has not been tried yet.This culture of injustice has become a curse for us.  The government and law enforcement agencies have failed completely to stop the violence." Prof. Robayet Ferdaus, from  Sammilito Samajik Andolon said, "The Bangladesh that we are seeing now is not the Bangladesh we know. Our country is going to become completely communal. We have to strongly prevent those malicious elements from spreading their venoms to keep it safe."They also demanded five points regarding the victims and the conspirators of the Narail attack.The demands are to form a proper probe committee to reveal the conspiracy against Hindu people, to complete all the  judicial process of this attack within next three months, to provide proper amends to the victims, to prohibit the use of religion in the name of politics and to form minority commission and protection law for the safety of the minorities of the country.  

Different student organisations staged demonstrations on Dhaka University campus on Monday protesting the ‘police action’ on the students of Shahajalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). Pragatishil Student Jote, an alliance of left-leaning organisations, held a protest rally at the foot of anti-terrorism Raju memorial sculpture at around 12.30 pm to express their solidarity with of the protesting students of SUST. Dipak Shil, General secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, said, " We observed the 50th anniversary of our independence but out universities are still under the clutches of culprits. Yesterday, SUST VC ordered police action on the students. Earlier, they were attacked by Chhatra League men too." Also read: SUST students now demanding VC’s resignation He condemned the attack on the students and demanded the removal of the SUST VC.