CAB challenges gas price hike decision in High Court

The decision of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to hike gas prices has been challenged in court.

Architect Mubasshar Hussain filed a writ petition at the High Court, challenging the legitimacy of the BERC decision, on behalf of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) on Monday.

Hussain sought a stay on the Feb 23 notice announcing the decision to hike the gas prices in two phases in March and July.

Mohammad Saiful Alam, the lawyer for Hussain, told bdnews24.com that the hearing on the petition might take place on Tuesday.

The lawyer said the petition was filed after the BERC chairman did not respond to the legal notice seeking explanation on these issues.

The energy secretary and the BERC chairman have been made respondents in the petition.

He also said that the BERC decision to raise the prices twice in a single notice is illegitimate.

The commission also violated the law by not fixing the prices of fuels within 90 days of holding the mass hearing on proposals to raise the prices, he added.

The mass hearing was held in August last year.

CAB also organised a human chain programme in front of the National Press Club to protest against the gas price hike.

CAB President Golam Rahman hoped the High Court would issue a verdict on organisation's favour.

According to the new prices, the domestic consumers will have to pay 50 percent more for stoves than they are now paying while those using meters will have an additional 60 percent added to their bills.

The price of compressed natural gas (CNG), used for automobiles, will go up by 14.28 percent. For power generation, fertiliser production, industries and commercial entities, gas prices are rising by 5 to 50 percent.