Police on Saturday foiled BNP’s demonstration and human chain programmes they staged in the port city protesting the price hike of power, gas and essential commodities, reports news agency UNB.

The leaders and activists of the party, led by city BNP general secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain, started gathering in front of Chittagong Press Club at around 10:00am.

At one stage, police obstructed them when the BNP men tried to form a human chain, leading to an altercation between them.

Later, the BNP activists left the place when police snatched banners from them.

Nazrul Islam, sub-inspector of Kotowali police station, said police foiled the BNP programme as they did not take any permission from the authorities concerned to hold the human chain in front of the press club.

The government has increased power price by 2.93 per cent while that of gas by 26.29 per cent with effect from 1 September.