Move to increase CNG price protested
Protesting the government move to increase price of compressed natural gas (CNG), two organisations related to CNG use yesterday threatened of tough agitation programmes.
One of the organisations, Dhaka Mohanagar CNG Auto-rickshaw Babshaye-Malik Samity, in a statement, said the government would have to take responsibility of the problems created in the transport sector due to this hike.
Price of CNG was increased twice per cubic metre in the last six months, once in May from Tk 16.75 to Tk 25 and then raised to Tk 30 in September, they said.
Requesting the government not to increase price of petroleum products, they said any such hike hugely affects commuters and market products, causing suffering to those mainly coming from lower and lower-middle-classes.
In a separate statement, Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association, said only Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission, as per its 2003 act, has the jurisdiction to fix prices of petroleum products after holding public hearings involving stakeholders.
The statement of the finance minister about the price hike of CNG is “illegal”, they said.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, at his secretariat office on Wednesday, said the price of CNG is likely to increase by this year.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments