Gas tariff hike: BNP, Nat’l committee extend support to hartal
BNP has extended its support to leftists sponsored six-hour hartal on February 28 protesting the recent gas price hike.
Besides, National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports also extended its support to the hartal today terming the latest gas tariff hike as “totally illogical”.
Leftist political parties announced the hartal yesterday a day into the government raised gas prices for all consumers by 22.7 percent and decided to implement the hike in two phases.
As per the new hike, households using double burners have to pay Tk 800 each from next month compared to Tk 650 now, while those using single burners have to pay Tk 750 each against Tk 600. The prices would be increased again on June 1 by another Tk 150 for each gas stove.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP secretary general, disclosed his party decision while talking to reporters at a function in Thakurgaon today.
Meanwhile, Prof Anu Muhammad, member secretary of the national committee, announced the decision while addressing a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka protesting Rampal power project near the Sundarbans.
“Price hike of gas is totally illogical which has been proved during public hearings held by the BERC [Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission]. But the government has increased the gas price making different stories,” Anu Muhammad said.
He also termed the government’s master plan on power sector “erroneous” and “self contradictory”. “We will place an alternative master plan on power sector on March 18,” he said.
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