Energy Adviser deploys mobile courts to curb LPG price manipulation

Power, energy and mineral resources adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan has said retail and wholesale traders manipulated the market to raise LPG prices. He made the remarks while responding to journalists after a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Government Purchase and Economic Affairs at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

The adviser said the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission had increased LPG prices slightly, and some traders took advantage of the anticipation to raise prices in advance, causing abnormal hikes in the market.

To address the situation, he said the cabinet secretary had been instructed to deploy mobile courts in every district to monitor LPG prices, with district administrations and police taking joint action.

He added that the issue was also discussed at a law and order committee meeting on Monday, stressing that there was no real justification for such abnormal price increases and that it was entirely the result of manipulation.

Asked who was involved, the adviser said both retail and wholesale traders were responsible, adding that the government was taking the matter seriously and action would be taken against those responsible.