STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The government yesterday hiked the gas price by 22.8 percent, compounding the woes of the ordinary citizens who are already grappling with the spiralling prices of almost all essentials.

As per the new tariffs announced by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), the use of a single burner will cost Tk 65 more at Tk 990 and a double-burner Tk 105 more at Tk 1,080.

Of the 43 lakh household gas connections, about four lakh have pre-paid meters and the tariff for those will increase 42.9 percent to Tk 18 per cubic meter.

The gas price was last hiked in July 2019.

Fertiliser factories have been slapped with the steepest hike: they will now have to pay Tk 16 per cubic meter of gas instead of Tk 4.45.

Asked about the hike, which can add to the inflationary pressure, Mohammad Abu Faruque, the acting chairman of BERC, said: “The government has already decided not to give subsidies for any product at the production level. It would be extended at the consumers’ end.”

The small and cottage industry users, however, will pay Tk 6.26 less at Tk 10.78 per cubic meter of gas.

The price for compressed natural gas (CNG) was not hiked: consumers will continue to pay Tk 43 per cubic meter of gas.

“We saw earlier that if the CNG price is hiked, the transport sectors cash in on it. We want to keep this sector stable now as the people are already suffering.”

For captive power plants, the hike in tariff will be 15.5 percent, which is higher than the rate recommended by BERC’s technical evaluation committee.