Dhaka: The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports on Saturday announced a half-day hartal in the capital on January 26 protesting the Rampal coal-fired power plant near the Sundarbans.

The committee also announced a countrywide demonstration and protest rally on December 26, a worldwide protest on January 7, and pledged to present an alternative sustainable energy master plan on January 14.

Professor Anu Mohammad, member secretary of the committee made the announcement from a grand rally of the ‘Cholo, Cholo, Dhaka Cholo’ (Lets march towards Dhaka) program of the committee at Central Shaheed Minar in the afternoon.

Several thousand people including different left leaning and progressive political parties joined the grand rally, that started from the Central Shaheed Minar and ended at Motiul Chattar in High Court intersection via TSC, Shahbagh and Matshya Bhaban, carrying anti-Rampal power plant festoons and placards.

Engineer Sheikh Shahidullah, convener of the committee, presided over the program.

Mozahidul Islam Selim, president of Communist Party, Comrade Khalequzzaman, general secretary of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BaSaD), Junaid Saki, coordinator of Gonotantrik Bam Morcha, Saiful Haque, president of Biplabi Workers Party, Moshrefa Mishu, central president of Democratic Workers Party, Professor M M Akash, member secretary of the committee and writer and columnist Syed Abul Maksud also spoke at the rally.