Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 5th June 2022 protesting and condemning the government’s decision of increasing gas prices by 22.78 percent.

On 5th June, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commissionannounced increasing gas prices by 22.78%. With the new price coming into effect the expenditure of domestic natural gas users for a single burner would climb to Tk 990 a month from the previous price of Tk 925.The monthly price of double burner use by domestic users has been increased to Tk 1080 from the previous price of Tk 975. The pre-paid users, the price has been hiked from 12.60 taka to 18 taka, for fertilizer production, the per cubic meter gas price has been increased by 4.45% and now it is fixed at 16 taka. The highest increase in price was seen inthe fertilizer sector with an increase of 259percent, 12 percent in the electricity generation sector, and 15.5 percent in the captive sector. On average, the gas price has been hiked by 22.78 percent. With this hike, the government has increased the gas price for consecutive 8 times in their 13-year regime. The decision of increasing gas prices is totally illogical and impractical and it will go against the public interest. I am severely condemning the decision.

The countrymen think, that due to the gas price hike, industry, business and trade, and the overall economic sector will be affected. The industrialists and the businessmen will be compelled to increase the product’s price and consequently, the general people will suffer terribly. Already, the price of all essential commodities is being sold at a high price. The latest price hike of gas will cause more suffering to the people. This absurd decision once again proved that the incumbent government is not a pro-people authority. By increasing gas prices, the government is shifting its liabilities of looting upon the mass people. The expansion of industry and SME sector will face a huge crisis because of the decision.

Considering the interest of the people, I am urging the concerned authorities to repeal the decision of the gas price hike immediately.