Dhaka: Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) arranged a public hearing to enhance the price of gas in the current fiscal year. The hearing beginning from March 10 continued for three days.
In the public hearing several gas distribution and transmission companies placed proposals for enhancing the price at least for 102 percent. The companies showed the reason that they have to import LNG at a high price.
From the very beginning of enhancement the consumers vigorously protested it and said that BERC itself violated its own framed law where it has been told that the price can be revised once in a year. They also said that if the gas price is increased then it will create serious economic pressure on the consumers. Because the enhancement has manifold adverse effect in the market The prices of all consumer goods will be jumped. Because the producers and sellers will not incur loss. The regular living cost will increase which will be a big burden.
The experts of the country dealing with gas also opined the same as the consumers. The experts said that gas price can be increased once in a year according to the laws framed by BERC.
Dealing with the matter Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) president Golam Rahman told Barta24.com that there are two sides of gas price enhancement. One is whether the matter is legal as per their own law another is justification. BERC enhanced the gas price in October of 2018 so there is no scope to increase again in the same financial year. He told that a writ petition has been filed in the higher court which is likely deliver a verdict in no time. Regarding justification the CAB president said even to increase the gas price in last October was not justified. BERC is supposed to look after the interest of the consumers while it is looking the interest of the gas companies, which is unfortunate. This enhancement attempt cannot be accepted, he added.
Experts opined the BERC is trying to help the gas companies to make extra profit without paying any heed to the interest of the consumers.
Member secretary of the national committee for Protecting Oil, Gas-Mineral Resources and Power-Ports Professor Anu Mohammad told Barta24 that there is no justification of gas price enhancement. There is enough gas reserve in the country so there is no justification, he said. The BERC is looking the interest of gas companies rather the consumers, he added.
Prof. Anu Mohammad further told that the gas price is enhanced at the rate of Taka 10.00 then the common people will have to pay Taka 50.00 as consumer effects because it has serious cyclic effect at the consumer level, according to economics. So this enhancement is not rationale at all, he said.
Talking about gas price BSD leader Razequzzaman Ratan said that gas is such an essential good that if its price is increased then the prices of all goods increase by leaps and bounds bringing sufferings to the common people. Criticizing the government the BSD leader Ratan said that though the government celebrated the victory of winning the sea area but it did not take any initiative to explore gas from the sea. While Myanmar is lifting gas after proper exploration. To the contrary without exploring sea gas we are exporting costly gas from abroad.
However BERC has called upon the people not to be scared at the gas increase matter. BERC Chairman Monowar Islam told that the enhancement will be considered and it will be done with proper justification.