"We've already initiated a move to make the adjustment… if there is a decision in this regard, it'll lead to enhancement in fuel prices soon," Energy Adviser Tapan Chowdhury said at his ministry after a meeting with a USAID delegation yesterday.

The last BNP-led alliance government had raised the prices of gasoline on June 8, 2006.

At present, the prices of both diesel and kerosene are Tk 33 per litre while that of petrol is Tk 56 and octane Tk 58.

State-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, responsible for petroleum import and marketing, has long been incurring huge loss of Tk 3,000 crore a year for selling the imported petroleum at subsidised rates. Its dues to different banks have gone up to Tk10,500 crore against its import L/C opening.

Tapan Chowdhury said the government is considering the financial losses of the consumers while moving for the price adjustment.

He said the power and energy divisions will jointly make a presentation before the Advisory Council while the government will take the final decision.

During the meeting with the Energy Adviser, the USAID made a presentation on its study report on electricity import from India.

Referring to it, Tapan Chowdhury said the USAID has conducted a pre-feasibility study on electricity import from India.

He said this project will take about three years to be implemented.

A committee will be formed to examine the study report, which indicated that the transmission charge in case of electricity import will be Tk 1.20 per unit.