No bar on gas price hike from June 1

Supreme Court on May 30, 2017 cleared the way for the government to execute its decision to hike gas prices from June 1 in the second phase. 

The Supreme Court today cleared the way for the government to execute its decision to hike gas prices from June 1 in the second phase.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain stayed till June 5 (Monday) the HC order that stayed the decision of increasing the gas price from June 1.

The chamber judge passed the order following a petition filed by Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) seeking a stay on the HC order.

The apex court judge also sent the commission’s petition to the full bench of the Appellate Division for its hearing on June 5. 

While passing the order on February 28, the High Court also questioned the legality of the move to increase the prices in two phases.

The BERC on February 23 raised gas prices for all consumers by 22.7 percent and decided to implement the hike in two phases.

As per the new prices effective from this month, households using double burners would pay Tk 800 instead of the current Tk 650 while those using single burners would pay Tk 750 instead of Tk 600. The prices were supposed to be further increased by Tk 150 each from June 1.

Source: thedailystar