CPB, BaSaD protest gas price hike plan

Two Leftist parties have announced a two-day agitation programme in protest against the government's decision to hike gas prices.

Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BaSaD) General Secretary Khalequzzaman on Friday said they would be out on the street with the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) through December on the issue.

At a discussion, CPB chief Mujahidul Islam Selim said the CPB and BaSaD would hold demonstrations across Bangladesh on Saturday.

He said a rally would be held in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Nov 24.

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The government decided to increase gas prices from Jan 1 next year. The price of household gas is going to register the maximum hike.

The power ministry proposed to Petrobangla to bill customers Tk 1,000 for a connection to two ovens and Tk 850 for a single one.

The BNP has already warned the government, saying the move will prove to be costly.

CPB chief Selim said, "Prices of electricity and gas are being hiked without any valid reason... It's clear that lower middle-class consumers will be the sufferers."

BaSaD's Khalequazzaman said they would sit with the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports after their Nov 22 and 24 programmes.

Speaking at the programme, Dhaka University Prof SM Akash said it was true that the government was conceding losses by providing subsidies in the energy sector.

"But why should the middle-class and lower middle-class consumers suffer? The government is wrong if it thinks hiking gas prices will curb losses," he said.

Prof Anu Mohammad of the national committee said the funds for gas development had been looted.

"The government is suffering losses in power production. However, if corruption and wrong policies are the reason for high production costs, then it's not the nation's liability," he said.