The High Court will deliver its order on March 31 on a writ petition filed challenging the government's move to hike gas prices.
The High Court bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader fixed the date on Wednesday after hearing the writ filed by Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB).
Petitioner's counsel Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua said Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on October 16, 2018 turned down the proposals of Petrobangla and its subsidiary companies to hike the gas prices.
Later, a writ was filed with the High Court and it issued a rule. Though the rule is pending, they served a notice for public hearing for on gas tariff-hike proposals.
"We filed the petition seeking a stay on the effective of the notice. After conclusion of the hearing, the court fixed March 31 for passing its order," he said, describing the regulator's process for public hearing as “unlawful” as there is no rule to hold public hearing twice in a fiscal year.
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Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd and Sundarban Gas Company Ltd on Tuesday proposed raising gas tariffs for household users by 80% while up to 211% percent for consumers of different sectors, including power, industry, and motor vehicles.
On Wednesday, state-owned Bakhrabad and Jalalabad Gas Distribution Companies separately placed their respective proposals which were identical with that of distribution entity Titas and Sundarban.
As per the proposal, if it is approved by the energy regulator, the household consumers using one burner will have to pay Tk1,350 per month instead of existing rate of Tk750 while the two-burner users will pay Tk1,440 per month instead of Tk800 and the metred household consumer has to pay Tk16.41 per cubic metre (each unit) instead of Tk9.10 per cubic metre for gas consumption.
