General public to bear the brunt

The latest rise in fuel prices will affect the middle and lower income groups and the poor as the costs of daily essentials and transport will now go up.
The government raised fuel prices with effect from yesterday in its second such move since September to trim the country's subsidy burden.
The price of petrol has been fixed at Tk 86, octane Tk 89, diesel Tk 56 and furnace oil at Tk 55.
The price hike of diesel will push up the production cost of paddy on a 25-decimal land from around Tk 1,000 to Tk 2,000 as expenses for irrigation will mount, said Mazharul Haque Mukul, a farmer of Chaysuti union in Kishoreganj.
But, he said, farmers will not be able to recover the extra cost. "We now get only Tk 600 against a mund of paddy which should have been Tk 700-750.”
Farmers will suffer a lot in the next irri-boro season starting from January, he added.
Mohammad Shawkat, a hawker in the city's Gulistan, said, "Last year, I could easily come to Gulistan from Rayerbagh at Tk 5. But now I have to pay Tk 20."
“The price rise of fuel oil will further increase my travel cost,” he said.
Responding sharply to the government move, Mohammad Shajahan, a 60-year-old auto-rickshaw driver, said he was now bracing for a higher house rent.
Traders of Karwan Bazar say the hike will shortly have an impact on the market as the transport cost will rise.
"We pay Tk 10,000 to bring commodities by a truck from Faridpur," said Feroz Biswas, one of the traders. “Now the cost will rise by at least Tk 500.”
This is the worst decision this government has ever made, he said, adding businessmen will now have to increase the prices of essentials.
Mohammad Alauddin, driver of a pickup van, said apart from higher fuel prices, they will have to count extra bucks as ferry fares will be increased too.
Echoing the view of the people, a presidium member of the ruling Awami League, Obaidul Quader, said the impact of fuel price hike will fall on transport sector and industries.
Obaidul Quader, also chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on information ministry, made this comment at a view exchange with local journalists at Feni circuit house.
Secretary General of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Samity Khandaker Enayet Ullah said bus owners will have to suffer a huge loss due to the increase in fuel prices as they will have to spend Tk 1,500 to Tk 2,000 additionally on fuel per trip.
"We have already communicated our concern to the government and hope to get a response the next week," he said.