Govt allies slam move to hike power prices

Alliance partners of the Awami League (AL) yesterday expressed concern over the government’s decision to hike the power tariff afresh, saying it is unwise to do so ahead of the 11th general election in 2019. Leaders of the 14-Party Alliance, including a minister and a former minister, also urged the Sheikh Hasina government to reconsider the decision. They criticised the government for failing to control the price hike of essential commodities for the past few months. The fresh rise in the power tariff will add salt to the sufferings of common people, they said. Earlier yesterday, the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced to raise the power tariff by Tk 0.35 per unit (5.3 per cent) on an average. It, however, decided not to raise the bulk tariff.

BERC chairman Monwar Islam said the new tariff will come into effect from December. In a related development, three Left-leaning political parties—Bangladesh Communist Party, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal and Ganotantrik Bam Morcha—called a half-day strike on November 30 in protest against the decision.

Talking to The Independent, Bangladesh Workers’ Party president Rashed Khan Menon said: “It is not wise for the government to hike the electricity price ahead of the next parliamentary polls. It should reconsider the decision immediately.”

Menon, who is also the tourism and civil aviation minister, said they will discuss the issue in the next meeting of the AL-led 14-Party Alliance.

Echoing Menon’s view, Samyabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua said that it is an absolutely wrong decision to increase the power tariff when people are already reeling under the abnormal price hike of essential commodities for the past couple of months.

A factional chief of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Ambia), Sharif Nurul Ambia, said the people are unhappy with such decisions. “The government should reconsider its decision. We will discuss the issue in our party forum,” he added.

 

Govt allies slam move to hike power prices

Alliance partners of the Awami League (AL) yesterday expressed concern over the governments decision to hike the power tariff afresh, saying it is unwise to do so ahead of the 11th general election in 2019. Leaders of the 14-Party Alliance, including a minister and a former minister, also urged the Sheikh Hasina government to reconsider the decision. They criticised the government for failing to control the price hike of essential commodities for the past few months. The fresh rise in the power tariff will add salt to the sufferings of common people, they said. Earlier yesterday, the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced to raise the power tariff by Tk 0.35 per unit (5.3 per cent) on an average. It, however, decided not to raise the bulk tariff. BERC chairman Monwar Islam said the new tariff will come into effect from December. In a related development, three Left-leaning political partiesBangladesh Communist Party, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal and Ganotantrik Bam Morchacalled a half-day strike on November 30 in protest against the decision. Talking to The Independent, Bangladesh Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon said: It is not wise for the government to hike the electricity price ahead of the next parliamentary polls. It should reconsider the decision immediately. Menon, who is also the tourism and civil aviation minister, said they will discuss the issue in the next meeting of the AL-led 14-Party Alliance. Echoing Menons view, Samyabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua said that it is an absolutely wrong decision to increase the power tariff when people are already reeling under the abnormal price hike of essential commodities for the past couple of months. A factional chief of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Ambia), Sharif Nurul Ambia, said the people are unhappy with such decisions. The government should reconsider its decision. We will discuss the issue in our party forum, he added.