Dhaka: Terming illogical and anti-people the government’s decision to hike gas prices, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday urged the government to rescind it.

“The government which lacks public support has got desperate to collect huge revenue cutting public pockets to address the mega-size budget requirements. We strongly demand the government shelve its unethical, irrational and anti-people decision of hiking gas prices,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He made the demand at an emergency press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.

He alleged that the government raised the gas prices only to indulge in widespread plundering making the country’s people hostage.

“The so-called gas price hike proposal has been made to balance it with that of LPG. The decision will help boost the LPG market and benefit some businessmen close to the government,” Fakhrul said.   

The BNP leader warned that the country’s people will not accept the gas price hike decision.

Asked whether their party will announce any programme protesting the gas price hike, he said they will inform it later.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) raised the gas prices for all consumers which will come into effect in two phases.

Fakhrul said the fresh gas price hike will not only hamper development but also make people’s tax load heavier. “In fact, the government is making evil efforts to increase taxes in every sector to fulfill budget deficit.”

He said increasing gas price twice within a year is not only unreasonable but also unethical. “We think the country’s economy will be affected if the gas prices are raised. “The export-oriented RMG sector and the industrial sector as a whole will also fall in crisis.”

The BNP leader also alleged that poor people will also suffer as the transport fare and prices of some essentials may go up following the gas price hike.