Bangladesh fuel prices still low compared with other countries: Rizvi

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said fuel prices in Bangladesh remain significantly lower than in many other countries, as the government faces rising costs amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Speaking in Dhaka on Monday (September 21), Rizvi said the government was subsidising fuel despite the recent price adjustment and would continue to incur losses.

He claimed diesel costs around Tk250 a litre to procure and that the government would still lose about Tk 70 per litre even after the latest adjustment.

The government raised the prices of diesel, octane, petrol and kerosene by Tk 20 a litre from Monday, with diesel now selling at Tk 135 a litre.

Rizvi said the government was making sincere efforts to address the fuel crisis and called on opposition parties to offer alternative solutions rather than merely criticising its measures.

He had previously attributed the energy crisis to the global situation and disruptions caused by the US-Iran conflict.

He also alleged that attempts were being made to create instability through planned acts of violence and claimed that elements linked to the “defeated forces” could be involved.

He further alleged that some people within the administration might be working to undermine the government.

Rizvi said the government was also facing attempts to divert social development and public welfare programmes and urged political actors to consider the public interest while addressing the country’s ongoing energy challenges.