The provision of increasing the price of oil, gas and electricity is cancelled

The ordinance has been issued canceling the provision of increasing the price of fuel oil, gas and electricity in the executive order. As a result, these prices will be determined through public hearing.

Yesterday Tuesday (August 27) the President promulgated the 'Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024'.

Before this, the draft ordinance was approved in the meeting of the advisory council of the interim government on August 22.

Before this, the draft ordinance was approved in the meeting of the advisory council of the interim government on August 22. By amending the 'Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Act, 2003', section 34(a) of increasing fuel oil, gas and electricity prices has been repealed in the executive order. On the first day in office on August 18, Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Advisor on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources in the Interim Government, said, 'The price of gas, electricity and fuel oil will not be increased by executive order.'

On December 1, 2022, the President issued the 'Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022' empowering the government, not the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) in special cases, to determine, re-fix and adjust the prices of fuel oil, electricity and gas at the consumer level.

The Ordinance added section 34(a) under the heading Power of Government to fix, refix or adjust tariffs. That section states, 'Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, the Government may, by notification in the Government Gazette, in particular cases, for the purpose of coordination of subsidy, ensure uninterrupted supply of energy in the public interest, according to the demand of agriculture, industry, fertiliser, trade and domestic work. With the aim of increasing production, transmission, transportation and marketing of electricity generation, energy transmission, storage, marketing, supply, distribution and tariff at the consumer level to facilitate the adoption of effective measures.

The Ordinance becomes law when the Parliament sits later. The prices of gas, electricity and oil were being increased by the ministry. There was outrage among customers over this.

Bangladesh /OF