Titas Gas Company, the country's largest gas distribution company, proposed to increase gas prices by 240 percent. In contrast, the Technical Committee of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) recommended a 143 percent increase in prices. BERC has started a public hearing on the proposal to increase prices of all types of gas without residential residences and commercials used for cooking. The technical committee made a recommendation in the public hearing on the proposal to raise prices of Titas in the capital's Karwan Bazar on Tuesday.
It is said in the hearing that consumers are stolen 30 million cubic feet of gas every day in Dhaka and Chittagong according to the intelligence report. On the other hand, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is being imported at a higher price. LNG will not be imported if steal gas is stopped. If you do not have LNG, you will not need to increase gas prices.
Household and commercial customers are out of the price hike. On the other hand, rising prices are electricity generation, captive power (industrial power), fertilizer factories, industrial production and CNG customers. Chairman of the Commission Monowar Islam, Member Rahman Murshed, Mahmudul Haque Bhuiyan, Md. Abdul Aziz Khan, Mizanur Rahman were also present.
The Commission says that now the customers of the specified class buy an average of Taka 3,443 per cubic meter of gas. Titas has proposed to increase the gas cubic meter by 11% 7443 per all funds and charges. The technical committee thinks that if this price is kept at Tk 8, 405, there will be no loss of Titas.
The electricity development board (PDB), which participated in the hearing, said that if the price of gas is increased, the cost of electricity will be increased to Tk eight thousand crore annually. This large amount of money will have to increase the price of electricity to increase.
Consumer rights organization Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB), energy sector experts, business representatives, representatives of political parties took part in public hearing They said there is no logic to propose to increase gas prices. The gas sector irregularities are being tried to increase gas prices due to corruption. Bank looted gas sector like looted
Cab Energy Adviser Professor M Shamsul Alam said the government has closed the gas-related connection to the executive order. But a committee of gas-linking chief Tawfiq-e-Elahi has been appointed to supply gas to the industries. This committee has links to thousands of industries. That's why gas crisis has now come up. This illegal committee has made the gas sector 'Bottle basket basket' (bottomless basket).
He said, Titas lent 2 thousand 344 crores to two projects at eight percent for eight projects. Meanwhile, in the Titas Magnam, a company has been given Tk 130 crore for the joint venture with the company of Santos to dig the well. Although there was no gas available then it was known earlier. As a result, this 130 million taka will not get back to Titas. There is no scope for Titas loan without the permission of the BERC. It's irregularity.
Badrul Imam, a professor of geology department of Dhaka University, said that 20 wells have not been excavated in the last 20 years. But there is a possibility of getting gas all over the country. The possibility of getting gas in the sea is bright. In this way, the gas crisis has gradually been created. Now the price of gas is being increased by importing LNG at a higher price. He urged the local bodies to increase the capacity of Bapex and emphasize the need for gas exploration and extraction in land and sea.
Prices of Titas gas price increase have been suggested, the price of cooking and stainless steel used for cooking will not be increased. In addition, it is necessary to increase the price of gas in all sectors.
BUET Professor Nurul Islam told the hearing that the demand for LNG is being issued to the householders of the issue. Again a group has been active in this regard.
Titas Managing Director Engineer Mir Mashiur Rahman said, "Demand notes have not been given to anyone again. Those who have issued the Demand Note before, will be given first to the household if they connect. But in this case the government will have to declare. The government has not received any instructions for the gas in the Teetha House.
In the hearing, the main coordinator of the Ganasonghati Movement, Jonade Sakki, businessman's representative and media worker.
The question about the commission!
People participating in the hearing raised questions about the members of the commission. Because, as they say, when the current chairman of the BERC was in charge of power secretary, he was in favor of the power hike. Member of the Commission Mizanur Rahman was the director of PDB. He argued for the PDB to increase the price of electricity directly by the commission's public hearing. Another member of the commission, Abdul Aziz Khan Titas's former Managing Director. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating the allegations of various irregularities against Titas against him. As Titas's former MD, he will also speak for Titas, that is normal.