Friday, April 26, 2024
Requesting the general people to keep patience, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Sunday said that the fuel prices will be adjusted within the next one or two months.
“We have adjusted the fuel prices a few days ago and are monitoring the global market situation strictly. If the fuel prices decrease on the international market, we will be able to reduce the prices in the country. So, please be patient,” he said.
Nasrul was addressing a seminar titled "Energy Security in Bangladesh: Volatile International Market" held at Bidyut Bhaban in Dhaka. The Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) organised the event.
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On August 5, the government increased fuel prices amid the volatility in the global market.
Diesel and kerosene retail prices were fixed at Tk 114 per litre while that of octane at Tk 135 a litre and petrol at Tk 130 per litre.
The fuel price was hiked at a time when people, particularly from the lower- and middle-income groups, have been struggling with the skyrocketing commodity prices.
With the fresh fuel price hike, the lives of people have become tougher as it also caused another hike of transport fares.
Besides, amid the energy crisis, scheduled load-shedding is being implemented officially from July 19 to reduce diesel imports and save foreign currency.
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Although area-based daily load-shedding was scheduled for one hour, it allegedly continues for up to three hours at a time in some city areas across the country.
The power cuts in rural and remote areas, however, stretch for more hours, according to consumers.
At the seminar, Nasrul hoped to come out of the power cuts by the end of the next month.
