Ensure adequate gas supply first then asks for extra money

THREE lawmakers on Sunday criticised the government for increasing the gas price that would affect the people. The MPs said the price was increased without any discussion in Parliament when it was in session and that was tantamount to disrespecting the House. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission hiked the gas price within four hours of the passage of the National Budget in which the finance minister had said that price of “no item would be increased”. Workers Party lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon termed the government’s gas price hiking bypassing Parliament as humiliating.
The Parliamentary debate over gas price hike staged at a time when people are pinched by low utility services with soaring price, intolerable of the unemployment rate, and downgrading of law and order situation in the country. Agriculture Minister defended the government move saying that people would be affected by the price hike of gas in the short term but everyone would be benefitted in the long run as it would have a positive impact on the economy. He said for ensuring the uninterrupted power and gas supply, the prices have to be increased but its positive effects, like setting up of more industries, factories, and mills, have to be taken into account. Even, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her press conference yesterday defended the gas price hike saying that government is paying over Tk 10,000 crore subsidies in providing gas. She said per unit LNG is bought from abroad at Tk 61.12 but it is sold at only Tk 9.80.
We are stunned hearing the logics, where system loss, a huge amount of unpaid bills with government offices and large conglomerates, unnecessary waste and illegal gas connection were not taken into account, which eat up the lion portion of the imported and naturally-produced gas.
Why people will have to pay extra money to get gas? The reality is that most of the time gas supply remains inadequate in the households. That means, a consumer doesn’t get his required quantity of gas for which he pays money per month. Without giving proper service demanding extra money is totally unethical.