‘Gas price hike will have negative impact’

Dhaka University Professor and energy expert Badrul Imam told the Dhaka Tribune: “Gas price raise will have a negative impact on all sectors including public transport and market. In particular, there will be a hazardous situation over transport fares.” “An artificial crisis has been created by saying the gas resources are depleting. Besides, LNG will be imported at a high cost. So the government now wants to create a balance by raising the gas price,” he said. Consumers Association of Bangladesh’s energy advisor Prof. Shamshul Alam said: “In public hearings, it was not proved logically that the prices of gas should be raised.” Economist Mirza Azizul Islam said: “The government raising gas prices despite the fact that the gas companies are not in loss, was completely unnecessary. This price hike will affect the growth in export and manufacturing sectors.BNP demands withdrawalBNP has called upon the government to withdraw the decision to hike gas prices, terming the decision ‘irrational’ and ‘unethical’. Reading out a statement at the press conference, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the decision to hike gas prices is irrational, unethical and would create a massive pressure in the economy. People will not accept this decision, added the BNP spokesperson. He also criticised the government for not holding the mass hearing on the proposed gas price hike which was scheduled to be held in December last year.