Govt gets power to hike gas, electricity prices unilaterally
PBC NEWS DESK: Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Bill 2023 has been passed in the parliament empowering the government to increase the prices of electricity and gas without public hearings.
State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Sunday (January 29, 2023) moved the Bill in the House which was unanimously passed by voice votes with Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
Placing the bill, the state minister said the proposed law will be enacted by amending the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Act 2003. “Now the system loss in electricity generation is not more than 6-7 per cent declining from the earlier level of 41 percent,” he added.
Terming the act as ‘a black law,’ Gano Forum lawmaker from Sylhet-2 constituency Mokabbir Khan said the government has undoubtedly increased the distribution of electricity, but corruption has also gripped the entire sector.
He urged the government to remove the bill as it will further raise the unit price of power.
Jatiya Party lawmakers – Fakhrul Imam from Mymensingh-8 and Rawshan Ara Manan from reserved women seat-47, also have discussed the merit and demerit of the bill.Earlier, President Md Abdul Hamid promulgated the ordinance on December 1 amending the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Act 2003, as the Parliament was not in session at that time.
The law ministry issued a gazette on the same day announcing the amendment that allowed the government to adjust the prices of gas and electricity.
Earlier, Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources used to adjust the prices of fuel, including diesel, octane, kerosene, and petrol, without any public hearings, whereas BERC adjusted the prices of gas and electricity after public hearings.
