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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said those who are criticising the gas price hike have failed to understand the reality and didn’t see the development works carried out by the government.
Hasina said the import cost of each cubic feet of LNG was Tk 61.12, but it was being sold at Tk 9.80 by providing a sizeable subsidy of Tk 51.80.
“We need to provide a subsidy of Tk 19,310 crore. If we add tax and VAT, the figure would be Tk 30,000 crore.”
The Petrobangla and other companies had proposed hiking the price by 102 percent. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) felt that it was necessary to increase the price by 75 percent. The hike, however, was by only 32.80 percent keeping in mind the burden on the people, the PM said.
The leader of the House said gas was important for industrialisation and development of the country. “We don’t have enough gas. We are exploring gas fields.”
She said criticism over the gas price hike was unfortunate. “People who are criticising don’t see development. They don’t understand the reality.”
As Bangladesh does not have sufficient gas, it needs to import LNG at a high price, she added.
Refuting the claim of Deputy Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad that gas prices were cut in India, the PM said the price was comparatively still less in Bangladesh than in India.
“It is said that the gas prices were cut [in India]. The price of household gas in India is Rs 30 [around Tk 37] per cubic feet, whereas it is only Tk 12.60 in Bangladesh.”
The gas price for industrial purpose is only Tk 10.70/cf in Bangladesh against Tk 40-42/cf in India, the CNG price is Tk 43/cf in Bangladesh against Tk 44/cf in India, and the gas price for commercial use is Tk 23/cf against Tk 58-65/cf in India, Hasina said.
She also said Bangladesh needed to provide subsidy in electricity generation. She urged all to be cautious about using gas and electricity.
(EB)
