Dhaka: Public hearing on the government’s proposed gas price hike is going to start on Sunday at Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) auditorium at Karwanbazar in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) will hold the hearings to gather the views of different stakeholders in the gas sector.

As per the government instruction, seven state-owned gas distribution and transmission companies placed proposals to the BERC to almost double gas prices at the retail level.

The gas production companies including Petrobangla also proposed raising prices at the bulk level.

The watchdog body set a schedule to hold the public hearing from August 7-18 to hear the opinions of the stakeholders separately.

As per schedule the hearing on the proposal of Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) will be held on August 7, followed by the day for Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd (Titas Gas) on August 8, Pashchimanchal Gas Company Ltd on August 10, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Ltd on August 11, Karnaphuli Distribution Gas Company Ltd on August 14, Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd on August 16, Sundarban Gas Company Ltd on August 17 and Petrobangla along with BGFCL, SGFCL and Bapex’s proposal on August 18.

Different consumers right groups and trade bodies including Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Bangladesh CNG Association, Dhaka Chamber and Metropolitan Chamber have applied to participate in the hearings.

A number of leftist political parties also enlisted their names to take part in the public hearing to oppose the government’s proposal for hiking the gas price.

The government last raised gas price and electricity tariffs last year in September after similar public hearings.