“If the power tariff is hiked, there’s immense possibility that the GDP growth will decline by 1 percent,” said Mohiuddin Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association (BMPCA).
He was presenting a survey report at the programme titled ‘Power Tariff Hike Proposal: Ground Reality’ organised by the BMPCA at the Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad auditorium in the city.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) leader Ruhin Hossain Prince, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) leader Razequzzaman Ratan, Gano Samhati Andolon convener Zonayed Saki and FBCCI leader Abdul Haque also spoke on the occasion.
Mohiuddin Ahmed said common people have been facing serious troubles due to unbearable hike in prices of some essential commodities like onion and rice. “The household expenditure of a family has gone up three folds due to inflationary pressure. Any hike in the electricity tariff will further escalate the pressure,” he said.
Referring to their survey and mass signature collection campaign among the common people about the power tariff-hike proposals, he said about cent percent people are against any tariff hike.
The BMPCA president said their organisation will submit its survey report and a copy of the mass signature campaign to Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Berc) which held a public hearing on power tariff hike proposals earlier this month.
Ruhin Hossain Prince said it is possible to reduce the power tariff instead of any increase if its misuse is checked by the government.
He said the price of LPG is still high in Bangladesh although it has gone down in the global market.
Ruhin alleged that Berc has been working to serve government’s interest instead of that of common people. “Berc will lose its credibility if it doesn’t pull out from the ongoing move to raise the electricity tariff,” he said.
Razequzzaman Ratan said the ultimate motive of the government is to plunder people’s wealth through raising the power tariff.
Zonayed Saki said the government wants to give more benefits to owners of quick rental power plants. “That’s why they moved to raise the electricity tariff.” he said.
Abul Haque said if the electricity tariff is hiked, it will further push up the production cost in the industrial sector which will have multiple effects on the public life.