প্রকাশ: 20/03/2022
Speakers at a webinar on Saturday said that if gas prices
are raised again for the household consumers in the current situation, it will
come as a big blow to the masses amid the price hike of essentials.
“Really, the people are in a grim situation… the queues for
TCB products are increasing day by day," said eminent energy expert Dr M
Tamim while addressing the online seminar titled: “Would It Be Rational to
Increase Gas Price Now?”
The remarks from the energy experts came against the backdrop
that the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) is going to hold a
public hearing on March 21, on the appeals of the state-owned gas distribution
companies to raise the tariff by 117 percent at the retail level for household
consumers.
Energy and Power magazine organized the seminar which was
also addressed by Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) chairman Abdul
Jalil, Policy Research Institute (PRI) executive director Dr Ahsan H Mansur and
chairman of the energy standing committee of FBCCI Humauyn Rashid.
EP editor Mollah Amzad Hossain conducted the seminar.
Dr Tamim said any sudden change in energy price will create
problems for business sectors as well.
He said the government should suspend the development
projects and divert the fund to protect the people’s lives as they are facing a
war-like situation.
Dr Ahsan Mansur said if gas price is raised it will
definitely affect the standard of living of the common people.
“Many will go under the poverty line in that case," he
observed.
He suggested the government wait for some time for a stable
position in the global energy market.
“Any decision in this regard should come after
Ramadan," he said.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Abdul Jalil
the energy regulatory body sent letters to the concerned departments to let it
know whether there is any government’s decision on subsidy and on value added
tax (VAT) and other duties on the import of liquefied natural gas before making
any decision on the appeals of the state-owned companies to raise gas prices at
retail level.
He said this time the BERC technical team was asked to
independently analyze the appeals of the gas distribution companies and make
their observation.
He said the people are experiencing a huge inflation due to
price escalation and injection of money from the stimulus packages.
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