Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Saturday said that around 65% of marginalised and low-income electricity consumers have been kept outside the impact of the recent tariff adjustment by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), amid the ongoing global energy crisis and domestic constraints.
“About 65% of general and low-income electricity consumers who fall under the BERC price hike decision have been completely exempted from the additional pressure of this tariff adjustment,” he said at a press briefing at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Saturday morning.
Swapon said BERC revised electricity prices as part of its routine regulatory process based on specific criteria, but the government intervened to shield vulnerable groups.
“Although the decision affects higher-income consumers, 65% of low-income users will remain exempt from the price hike,” he added.
Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman read out a written statement outlining the activities of the Ministry of Power and Energy at the briefing. Deputy Principal Information Officer Mohammad Fakhrul Islam was also present.
The minister said countries with import-dependent energy systems, including Bangladesh, are facing sustained pressure due to global market volatility. He said inadequate past exploration and reliance on imports had increased vulnerability to external shocks, forcing price adjustments aligned with international markets.
Referring to the previous Awami League government, Swapon alleged that long-standing corruption and mismanagement in the power and energy sector had contributed to the current structural challenges.
He said the government is currently bearing a subsidy burden of around Tk 41,000 crore in the power sector while attempting to stabilise prices and ensure long-term energy self-sufficiency.
Swapon also stressed the need for a structured and regular information-sharing mechanism between the government, media, and the public.
“The government wants to inform the people, and the people want to know. A healthy media will serve as the bridge,” he said, adding that accountability of government actions would be consistently communicated through the media.