In a statement, he demanded that the government withdraw the decision immediately since it will cast a negative impact on economy and inflict sufferings on people.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Berc) announced to increase the power tariff on a weighted average by 5.3 percent at retail level and 8.4 percent at wholesale level.

The new tariff will come into effect on March 1, said newly-appointed Berc Chairman Md Abdul Jalil while announcing the decision on Thursday at the Commission’s auditorium.

The retail power tariff has been increased from Tk 6.77 to Tk 7.13 per unit (each kilowatt-hour) and Tk 4.77 to Tk 5.17 at wholesale level.

The Berc also raised the wheeling charge in power transmission by a weighted average of 5.3 percent to Tk 0.29 per kilowatt hour to Tk 0.27.

Protesting the gas tariff hike move, Fakhrul said the government is taking anti-mass decisions one after another as it is not accountable to people. “Though the power price increase will put people in serious trouble, the government is least bothered about it.”

He also alleged that the government raised the power price to hang onto power depending on corruption and plundering instead of thinking about people’s sufferings.

“Though the government has been talking about development, people are talking about the story of grand festival of plundering by the regime,” the BNP leader said.

He feared that the fresh power price hike will have a negative impact on the economy. “It’ll hit hard the low-income people and will cast an adverse impact on the production of industries, factories and agriculture.”

Fakhrul alleged people have got unnerved as the government increased the power price since they are struggling to cope with the prices that saw hike several times in the past.

“I strongly condemn and protest the fresh price hike in power. This decision must be revoked immediately. Or else, people will be vocal against the power price hike taking to the streets.