BTMA President raises concerns over gas price increase

Mohammad Swaif Ullah

Aziz Russell expressed his deep worry after the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources policy decision to implement a new pricing structure for gas. According to the proposal, industrial and captive power users will have to pay Tk 75.72 per cubic meter for using gas beyond their permitted load.

Talking to Textile Today, Aziz Russell said, “If the new government, which came to power after tremendous sacrifice by students and people, makes rush decisions like the previous fascist govt. then what is the difference between the two governments?”

“They should justify the increase to industries and then can think of such absurd policies. Whereas, we were hopeful that the people’s govt. would reduce the gas price – that was suddenly increased by the ousted previous government.”

Earlier, the Awami League government increased gas prices for industry by more than 150% and set them at Tk 30 per unit. However, the interim government had announced that it would not arbitrarily set prices by bypassing BERC like the ousted Awami League government.

In terms of the negative impact of this decision, BTMA President said, “Our textile backward sector is already losing competitiveness to neighboring countries like India. And now if we have to buy gas at import price, then we have to shut down our factories. I do not think it is an initiative to create any employment. Rather, hundreds of thousands of our workers will lose their jobs.”

“Our demographic dividend is our population. Whereas, this type of one-sided decision will be perilous to Bangladesh’s biggest export-earning sector and its millions of workforce. Not only that our industrialization prospect will be greatly hampered as well.”

Currently, they pay Tk 30.75 per cubic meter per flat even if they violate their permitted load. However, for new industrial and captive connections, Tk 75.72 per cubic meter will have to be paid.