Shafiqul Islam (Jami)
In addition to the extreme rise in prices of daily commodities, the price of diesel and kerosene in the country has been increased by TK 15 per liter in one jump. The new price of these two fuel oils will be TK 80 per liter, which was TK 65 for so long. Diesel is widely used in the agricultural sector of the country. Now the cost of agriculture will also increase. Diesel is used as a fuel for transportation in the country including buses and trucks. Rising prices will also increase the cost of public transport and the cost of transporting all types of goods. That has an impact on the relevant sectors. Overall, the cost of living for the common people will definitely increase. According to a notification issued by the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources on Wednesday night regarding the increase in the price of diesel and kerosene, a memorandum issued by the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources on November 10, 2019 only revised the price of diesel and kerosene among different types of petroleum products.
Criticizing the hike in diesel-kerosene prices, Mohiuddin Ahmed, convener of the General Citizens’ Council, said the rise in LPG prices has already put pressure on people’s lives. In the meantime, increasing the price of diesel-kerosene per liter will increase the cost of fuel, agriculture and public transport. Public transport owners will also increase fares. If the fare of freight is increased, the price of unrestrained goods will be curbed this time. We have learned that gas and electricity price hikes are being proposed. Thus, if the price of fuel increases, all the pressure will fall on the common people.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP) has commented that increasing the price of diesel and kerosene by TK 15 per liter is a suicidal and anti-people decision. The party’s chairman Jebel Rahman Gani and secretary general Golam Mostafa have demanded the cancellation of the anti-public interest decision.
In a press release on Thursday, they said the government’s decision to increase the price of diesel and kerosene was anti-people. The increase of diesel and kerosene price will put severe pressure on public life.
All other matters including the notification issued by the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources on December 22, 2008 and various amendments in this regard will remain unchanged. Detailed integrated price rate will be effective after 11 pm on November 3, i.e. from November 4. According to the integrated price structure, the price of diesel-kerosene will be TK 80 per liter at the retail level within 40 km of the depot. Earlier, diesel was sold at TK 65 per liter in the retail market. BPC informed the ministry that the loss was 13 to 14 TK per liter. According to BPC, Bangladesh has to import 4 million tons of diesel every year to meet the demand.
