Govt empowered to directly adjust electricity, gas prices

In a major move, an ordinance has been issued by amending the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Act-2003, allowing the government to adjust the electricity and gas prices without a public hearing.

President M Abdul Hamid made the ordinance issuance on Thursday, causing the the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to published a gazette notification in this regard later in the day.

Earlier, on Monday, the Cabinet gave final approval to the draft Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Ordinance 2022, with a provision for direct adjustment of fuel prices in special circumstances.

Before issuing the ordinance, BERC had the legal authority to increase fuel prices. BERC used to conduct public hearing with stakeholders before fixing electricity and gas prices.