Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday strongly criticised the government for raising the power tariff saying that the move has been taken to create a further scope for its party men to plunder public money.

"It's an illogical and anti-mass decision. It's manifested the regime's plundering policy. The power price has been raised to create more opportunities for the top ruling party leaders and their relatives," said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press briefing at BNP's Nayapaltan central office, he also demanded the government back off from such a move immediately. "I, on behalf of BNP, strongly condemn and protest the government's move."

Earlier in the day, the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) raised the power tariff by 5.3 percent on average or Tk 0.35 per unit at the customers' level.

BERC Chairman Monwar Islam announced the decision saying that the new tariff will come into effect on December 1 next.

Opposing the decision, Rizvi said the government has increased the power tariff to exploit people as it has no responsibility for them.

He said there is no logic to increase the power tariff as its generation cost has reduced due to fall of oil price in the international market. "So, the decision of hiking the power price is unprecedented one."

The BNP leader feared that the fresh power hike will badly affect the industrial and agricultural sectors of the country. "The low-income group of people will face serious trouble due to the power price hike."

He also voiced concern that the prices of the daily essentials will also be increased further if the power price increase decision is implemented.