The Dhaka Times Desk The High Court has declared illegal the increase in the price of domestic gas by the increasers in the second phase. Yesterday (Sunday) Justice Zeenat Ara and Justice Kazi Md. The High Court bench comprising Izarul Haque Akand gave this order.
In view of this verdict, from now on, according to the court's instructions, 750 taka for one stove and 800 taka for two stoves will be taken from the customer. The High Court has ordered to maintain this price fixed from August 1. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has been directed to inform the public in the form of a gazette notification of this court order.
After hearing a writ petition on February 28, the High Court postponed the second round of gas price hike decision for 6 months. BERC appealed seeking stay of this order. After hearing that application on May 30, the chamber judge sent it to the regular bench of the Appellate Division on June 5 by suspending the order given by the High Court. Following this, the matter was taken up for hearing on that day. The Appellate Division upheld the suspension order given by the Chamber Judge on hearing that day. Moreover, the ruling given by the High Court on the question of gas price increase is also asked to be settled by July 31.
It should be noted that on February 23, BERC announced the increase in gas prices in two phases. According to the public notification, the price hike is said to be from March 1 in the first phase and June 1 in the second phase. As per the BERC order, from March, residential customers will be billed Tk 750 (previously Rs 600) for one stove and Rs 800 (previously Rs 650) for two stoves. On the other hand, it is said to pay a bill of Tk 900 for one stove and Tk 950 for two stoves from June. Architect Mobashwer Hossain, the convener of Cab Consumer Complaint Handling National Committee, challenged the validity of that public notice in the court.
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