HC questions legality of BERC’s decision on setting up charges
The High Court today questioned the legality of Bangladesh Energy Commission’s (BERC) decision to setup the charges of gas production, transmission and distribution.
The court issued a rule asking the respondents to show causes why the BERC’s decision on October 16 last year should not be declared illegal.
BERC, its chairman, secretary to energy and mineral resources division under power, energy and mineral resources ministry and chairman of Petro Bangla have been made respondents to the rule.
The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasanand Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by convener of Consumer Association of Bangladesh Mubassher Hossain challenging the BERC’s decision.
Citing from the petition, Barrister JyotirmoyBarua, lawyer for the petitioner, told The Daily Star that the gas transmission cost is required at Tk 0.2565 but charge was fixed earlier at Tk 0.1565.
The BERC could have increased the charge by Tk 0.1000 to adjust the requirement but the BERC without following the findings in the public hearing most abruptly fixed the charge at Tk 0.4235 which in fact increased year Tk 544.49 crore without is revived again, he said.
The lawyer said though the gas price for the consumers was not increased, the charges of gas production, transmission and distribution were tactically increased as the gas companies have proposed for the increase.
The government will have to pay more subsidy for hiking the charges of gas production, transmission and distribution and ultimately the people will have to pay more, Barrister Jyotirmoy added.
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