Govt hiked power tariff to serve interest of syndicates: Rizvi

The government has increased the power tariff for the profit of 'Awami Syndicates,' said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizv.

He said: "The dummy government has again increased the price of electricity and gas without considering the situation of the common people."

"The government has adopted a policy of oppressing people by reducing the power of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission and taking the power of increasing the price of electricity in its own hands," he added.

He made the remarks during a press conference at BNP's central office in Nayapaltan in the capital on Thursday, soon after the announcement of hiking power tariff from February instead of March.

Earlier in the day, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources announced that the price of electricity will be increased from a minimum of 34 paisa to a maximum of 70 paisa per uniFebruary 1 instead of March 1.

According to this, the price of electricity will increase by 52 paisa per unit on average, which is a 6% increase, said Rizvi adding that the price of gas used in power generation has been increased from 2.5% to 5.36%.