The “Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (amendment) Ordinance, 2022” was placed in Parliament on Thursday which paved the way for the government to adjust the prices of gas and electricity without  public hearing. Law Minister Anisul Huq placed the ordinance in the House. President Abdul Hamid promulgated the ordinance on December 1 last year amending the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Act-2003. The law ministry issued a gazette on December 1 announcing the amendment that allows government to adjust the prices of gas and electricity. Previously, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources used to adjust the prices of fuel including diesel, octane, kerosene and petrol without any public hearing. Where, the prices of gas and electricity were adjusted by the BERC through public hearings. Read more: JS passes Bangladesh Patents Bill, 2022 With the amendment of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Act-2003, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources will not be required to hold a hearing to decide new prices for gas and electricity. The BERC is an autonomous body which was established based on the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Act 2003, aiming at improving power and energy infrastructure in Bangladesh. The law was amended thrice in the past. The Cabinet on November 28 approved an amendment to the BERC Ordinance 2022 to empower the government to set fuel tariff on its own under special circumstances without waiting for the commission’s public hearing and decision. Read more: JS passes Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation Bill, 2022

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday stressed the need for gradual withdrawal of subsidies, particularly from electricity and gas. “The subsidy is a serious matter. We must get out of the system,” said Planning Minister MA Mannan quoting the PM as saying at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec). Read: Project to develop 5G network, 9 others get ecnec nod The prime minister, who is also chair of the Ecnec, presided over the meeting, joining it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. Other ministers and officials concerned attended the virtual event from the NEC conference room. Sheikh Hasina talked about the subsidy during the discussion on an electricity project, said the planning minister while briefing the reporters after the meeting.