CNG sector owners for reduction of gas price

The government should cut the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) when reducing fuel oil prices, demanded businesspersons yesterday.

"If fuel oil prices are reduced and CNG price is hiked, it will create discrimination and chaos in the public transport sector," said a statement of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners' Association, which raised the demand at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity.

Private entrepreneurs invested around Tk 3,500 crore in the CNG sector and vehicles owners spent around Tk 2,500 crore to run on CNG. So, the CNG sector will face a threat, if the price of CNG is not decreased proportionately, it said.

Moreover, people will be discouraged to use CNG, increasing air pollution, said the statement, read out by the association president, Masud Khan. Currently, per cubic foot of CNG is sold at Tk 35, he said.

The government plans to slash prices of diesel, kerosene, octane and petrol by 15 to 25 percent to allow the economy to benefit from the slump in global oil prices, according to media reports.

The price of octane may come down to Tk 84.15 a litre from Tk 99, petrol to Tk 81.60 from Tk 96 and diesel and kerosene to Tk 51 from Tk 68. Moreover, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission has received proposals from gas distributors to hike the price of CNG.