Dhaka: Police on Monday foiled an attempt of two left parties to lay siege to the Secretariat protesting the government’s decision to increase gas and electricity prices.

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB) arranged the programme to lay siege to the Secretariat.

On Monday morning, the leaders of the two left parties joined in a protest rally, led by SPB general secretary Khalequzzaman and CPB general secretary Syed Abu Zafar Ahmed in front of Jatiya Press Club on Monday morning.

Later, as the activists brought out a procession towards the Secretariat, police placed barricade in front of gate no 5 of the Secretariat at about 11:45am.

Obstructed, the activists held another rally in front of the barricade and announced an end to their Monday’s programme with threats for forging tougher movement in protest of the hike of utility prices.