Leader of the opposition in parliament Raushan Ershad yesterday staged a walk out protesting the price hike of electricity and gas.
“When the price of oil in the international market is falling, power and gas prices are hiked in Bangladesh. People thought as the price of oil dropped in the international market, prices of electricity would be reduced,” she told parliament speaking in a point of order.
Raushan said: “Life is becoming expensive. Petrobangla made Tk2,080 crore profit in the last five years. When that is happening, why is the price of electricity increased?”
The Jatiya Party MP also said: “We want the price hikes revoked. This is what the people also demand.”
She alleged that load-shedding was still a serious problem. “In the Gulshan and Banani areas, we face two to three power cuts every day. It means there is a shortage in power supply.”
After that, Raushan, along with her opposition bench colleagues, walked out of the Jatiya Sangshad.
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu later said: “Without hearing what the government has to say, they left. This is not democratic.”
Taking floor, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that the price of electricity was not increased for the lower-income people who consume between one to 50 units per month, also for irrigation pumps.
The price was hiked for only those who belong to the higher middle-class and higher class, he said.
Claiming that the price of gas for household consumption is the cheapest in Bangladesh, the junior minister said 12% of the generated gas is now being used in households and the government has take steps to reduce this gradually.
The state minister also said that 82% of the generated gas is used for producing electricity.
On August 27, the government raised the price of electricity and gas 2.93% and 26.29% respectively on an average at the consumer level with effect from September 1.
