DHAKA: BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday (February 23) termed the government’s decision on gas price hike as anti-people and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

“It is an anti-people and illogical decision. The government should roll back the decision.”

Fakhrul came up with the call from a press conference at party chairperson’s Gulshan political office just hours after the announcement of the gas tariff hike by 22.7 percent in two phases from March 1 and June 1 respectively.

He also slammed the government for such a decision saying the price has been increased only to ensure profit of some identified businessmen.

He pointed out that the price hike will create sufferings of the people. “This will increase the production cost, public transport fare, and as a result cost of living.

“Many industrial factories might be shut down,” he feared.

Fakhrul further said the ready-made garments (RMG) factories will face stiff challenges from the factories of India and China. Thousands of RMG workers will lose the job which will affect the economy of the country negatively.

He also asked the government to “decrease the system loss” instead of hiking the tariff.

“According to a JICA report, generally, production of each ton of fertilizer requires 25,000 cubic feet of gas but in Bangladesh, private sector factories use 40,000 cubic feet while the state-owned fertilizer factories use 40,000-45,000 cubic feet.”

BNP chairperson’s adviser ANH Akhtar Hossain was, among others, present at the press meet.
** BNP convenes emergency press meet

BDST: 2144 HRS, FEB 23, 2017
SR