The provision of increasing the price of oil, gas and electricity is canceled by the executive order

During the time of the fallen Awami League government, the executive order included provisions to increase the prices of fuel oil, gas and electricity. However, this provision is being cancelled. For this, the draft of 'Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024' has been given final approval by the Advisory Council of the Interim Government.

The approval was given in the third meeting of the Advisory Council of the Interim Government at Rashtriya Guest House Yamuna on Thursday (August 22). 

Chief advisor Dr. The meeting started under the chairmanship of Muhammad Yunus. The meeting ended at noon. 

Earlier on December 1, 2022, the President issued the 'Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022' empowering the government, not the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) in special cases, to determine, re-fix and adjust the prices of fuel oil, electricity and gas at the consumer level.

The Ordinance added section 34(a) under the heading Power of Government to fix, refix or adjust tariffs. 

That section says, 'Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, the Government may, by notification in the Government Gazette, in particular cases, for the purpose of coordination of subsidy, ensure uninterrupted supply of energy in the public interest, according to the demand of agriculture, industry, fertiliser, trade and domestic work. With the objective to facilitate the adoption of effective measures for increasing production, transmission, transportation and marketing of electricity generation, energy transmission, storage, marketing, supply, distribution and consumer level tariffs can be fixed, re-fixed or adjusted.

The Ordinance becomes law when the Parliament sits later. The prices of gas, electricity and oil were being increased by the ministry. There was outrage among customers over this.

In the current context, to ensure greater public involvement, transparency, accountability, good governance, public expectations and consumer interest through public hearings in the determination of tariffs or prices of electricity generation and gas resources and petroleum products, to repeal Section 34(a) of the 'Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Act, 2003' The Cabinet Department said that the advisory council-meeting has been given final approval regarding the issuance of the ordinance.