The government hiked the gas price by 22.8 percent, compounding the woes of the ordinary citizens who are already grappling with the spiraling prices of almost all essentials. As per the new tariffs announced by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), the use of a single burner will cost Tk 65 more at Tk 990 and a double-burner Tk 105 more at Tk 1,080.
Of the 43 lakh household gas connections, about four lakh have pre-paid meters and the tariff for those will increase 42.9 per cent to Tk 18 per cubic meter. The gas price was last hiked in July 2019. Fertiliser factories have been slapped with the steepest hike: they will now have to pay Tk 16 per cubic meter of gas instead of Tk 4.45. The government has already decided not to give subsidies for any product at the production level. It would be extended at the consumers’ end. The small and cottage industry users, however, will pay Tk 6.26 less at Tk 10.78 per cubic meter of gas.
The gas tariff for power plants has been increased by 12.8 percent, for large-scale industries by 11.96 percent, for medium-scale industries by 10.09 percent, tea estates by 11.5 percent, and for commercial users like hotels and restaurants 15.83 per cent. The country is already in an unstable situation due to the price hike of commodities, inflation and devaluation of the exchange rate. At this time, the government should increase subsidies in the energy sector instead of increasing the price.
All citizens, except for political and financial clouts, are in dire conditions due to the exorbitant inflation rate nowadays and the latest price hike of gas connections would push them into the corner of access to utilities. Despite resources being available around the citizens, only a few have access to those available choices. The coming global crisis triggered by the health and economic pandemic over the last two years and the Ukraine war latest will push all of us on the verge of total instability in political, financial, and environmental. We, on behalf of citizens, are asking the government to stand beside middle and lower-income people to survive and flourish them.
