Even after the latest hike in fuel prices in Bangladesh it is equal to India and comparatively lower than the other neighbouring countries, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud. He made the remark Saturday at a seminar marking Sheikh Kamal’s 73rd birth anniversary at Dhaka University. Hasan Mahmud said the government provided a subsidy of Tk 53,000 crore or 6 billion dollar in fuel and power sector in the last fiscal year. Also read: Fuel price hike: Passengers suffer as buses go off roads in capital The neighbouring countries did not provide such subsidy and as a result they had to raise the fuel prices long before Bangladesh, he added.  “India has been selling diesel at Tk 114 per liter and octane at Tk 134-135 per liter which is the current price in Bangladesh. As our price was lower a huge amount of fuel was being smuggled to India through borders,” said the Information and Broadcasting Minister. He said in India’s Kolkata current diesel price is Tk 114 per liter (as  per local currency) while Tk 112 in allover India. “In China the diesel price is equal to Tk 118, in United Aram Emirates it is Tk 123, in Nepal it is Tk 127.82, in Indonesia Tk 138.24 and in Singapore Tk 189. 78,” said the minister. Regarding the increase in transport fares he said, if there are 70% passengers in a 50-seated bus the fare will increase by Tk 0.29 per kilometer only. Also read: Fuel price hike by govt just rubbing salt in wounds: BNP “Currently, a passenger has to pay Tk 1.80 per kilometer which will increase by Tk 2.90. Soon the government will hold meeting with all  concerned parties to ensure no one takes unfair opportunity of the fuel price hike,” said Hasan Mahmud.

The hike in fuel prices by the government on Friday has resulted in an acute transport crisis in Dhaka, causing untold sufferings to commuters as a large number of buses stayed off the roads on Saturday morning. In an abrupt move, the government increased the prices of diesel, octane and petrol by 42.5 percent, 51.7 percent and 51 percent respectively Friday night. Currently, diesel is being sold at Tk 114 per litre, octane at Tk 135 per litre and petrol at Tk 130 per litre. Transport owners decided not to operate buses following the government’s announcement, triggering transport shortage in the capital. Also read: Brace for bus & ferry fare hike Masuma Nasrin Rimi, a private employee working at a multinational company at Gulshan-1, waited in front of Purobi Bus Stand in Mirpur-12 for two hours but couldn’t catch a bus. She had to share a CNG-run auto-rickshaw with another office goer to reach Mohakhali Wireless Gate area.