From September 1, the price of electricity is increasing again!

Dhaka Times Desk It is said that the announcement of increase in electricity prices is coming again. Retail and wholesale prices of electricity may increase from September 1. In this regard, the policy decision has been given from the top level of the government.

According to the source, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) chairman Syed Yusuf Hossain led the members of the commission met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the night of August 28 and discussed in detail about the increase in electricity prices. Prime Minister's electricity and energy adviser. Tawfiq-e-Ilahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power Enamul Haque and Power Secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present on the occasion. After a detailed discussion, the Prime Minister approved in principle the proposal to increase the price of electricity at a reasonable rate and in tolerable steps. At this time, he mentioned the issue of public dissatisfaction caused by the withdrawal of electricity bill slab (step or class) facility last February and ordered to adjust the matter immediately. He said, at this stage, after the increase in the price of electricity, care should be taken so that there is no new dissatisfaction in the public mind.

According to the source, according to the plan of the Energy Regulatory Commission, the official announcement regarding the increase in electricity prices at this stage will be made any day in the first half of the next month (September, 2012). However, whenever the announcement is made, the increased new prices will be effective from the first day of September. As a result, customers will have to pay extra for electricity bills in the month of October. Earlier, on March 29, the increase in electricity prices was announced, but it was implemented from March 1. According to the same source, the retail price of electricity may increase up to 30 percent at this stage. However, it is not yet decided how much the slab or stepwise price will be. BERC is working on the matter.

Incidentally, according to the demand of the power department, the Energy Regulatory Commission canceled the existing minimum step or slab facility in the electricity bill in February this year. Due to this, customers started receiving unusual bills in the month of March. In that situation, if the price of electricity was increased again in March, a severe unbearable situation was created in the electricity bill in April. Consumers panic about electricity bills. Withdrawal of the long-standing slab facility, the sudden rise in electricity bills has put the mainly middle-class consumers under severe pressure. The matter began to generate silent discontent in the public mind. Recently, an influential intelligence agency informed the top level of the government. According to the intelligence agency's report, if urgent measures are not taken in this regard, mass explosion may occur at any time.