power tariff hike
Political parties, rights, trade bodies oppose move
BERC public hearing begins
UNB, Dhaka
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) yesterday started its 4-day public hearing on proposals for raising both bulk and retail electricity tariffs amid opposition by political parties, trade bodies and consumer right groups. On the first day of the 4-day hearing at the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) Auditorium in Kawranbazar in the city, state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) placed its proposal to raise bulk power tariff to Tk 5.88 from the existing rate of Tk 4.84 per unit (each kilowatt hour) by Tk 1.04.
However, a BERC technical evaluation committee found that the BPDBs current calculated bulk price is Tk 4.77 per unit and as per this calculation, it recommend for a rise by Tk 0.93 per unit. But the tariff will be set by the commission on completion of hearing and other relevant process.
Taking part in such hearing for the first time, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Moazzem Hossain Alal the move to hike power tariff amid the soaring prices of essentials will create a burden on general people. Consumers Association of Bangladesh (Cab) adviser Prof M Shamsul Alam claimed that if the current leakages and corruptions could be prevented power tariff hike will not be required.
During the last public hearing, he alleged that Cab placed some 23 proposals to stop corruption and malpractices in power sector to reduce production cost.
