The second phase gas price hike for household consumers from June 1 has been declared illegal by the High Court on Sunday.
However, the additional bill which has already been charged since June 1 will not be refunded. Customers will go back to paying the previous charge from August 1.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Zinat Ara and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo delivered the verdict on a writ petition filed by Mubassher Hossain, convener of the Consumer Complain Handing National Committee and Consumer Association of Bangladesh.
"The court has declared the government's decision of increasing the gas price in the second phase illegal. But the household gas consumers will not get back the extra price they have already paid. The court also pardoned the government's realising of extra money from the consumers," BSS quoted advocate Subrata Chowdhury, who moved the writ filed by Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB), as saying.
The court also said the decision to increase the gas prices twice in a year in a single announcement contradicts the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Act.
Also Read- New gas prices effective from today
From June 1, consumers have been paying Tk900 instead of the Tk750 for a single-burner while double-burners are being charged Tk950 instead of Tk800.
The court said that the old price rate will be reinstated from August 1 and authorities will have to notify the consumers through advertisements.
On February 23, BERC raised gas prices by a weighted average of 22.7%. For households, the hike is 55-60% and for transportation it is 33%.
From March, the monthly gas bill for the single-burner stove was fixed to Tk750, up from Tk600. From June 1, it was raised again to Tk900.
The bill for the double-burner was fixed to Tk800 from March 1 and then Tk950 from June 1.
Earlier on June 5, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court stayed the High Court order that had stayed for six months the government decision of a second phase hike in gas prices.
The apex court also ordered to dispose of the rule issued by the High Court in this regard by July 31.
On May 30, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain stayed the High Court order and sent the matter to the apex court full bench for further hearing.
The High Court had passed the initial order on February 28, asking the concerned authorities to explain why the public notification of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) for increasing the gas price should not be declared illegal.