Opposition slams Seeks rollback
Opposition political parties have strongly criticised the government’s decision to raise fuel prices by Tk 20 a litre, warning that the move will increase transport and production costs, push up the prices of essential commodities and further intensify inflation.
The parties demanded that the government immediately withdraw the decision and instead take measures to reduce waste and unnecessary expenditure, improve fuel management and strengthen market monitoring.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami staged two protest rallies in Dhaka on Monday against the price hike, while the National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Khelafat Majlis, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), Bangladesh Labour Party and Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party also protested the decision.
The NCP and Islami Andolan Bangladesh separately announced protest programmes in the capital.
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, addressing a statement issued on Monday, said people were already struggling to cope with the rising prices of essential commodities and the widening gap between household incomes and expenses.
“In such a situation, the decision to raise fuel prices by Tk 20 per litre in one go will create a fresh crisis in people’s lives and further increase their sufferings,” he said.
Jamaat’s Dhaka South city unit held a protest rally at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram around 4:30pm, with Porwar and other central leaders attending. The party’s Dhaka North unit held another rally in Mohakhali around 4:45pm.
Porwar said the impact of the price increase would extend far beyond motorists because fuel is a key component of the transport and production systems.
He said the hike would increase agricultural and industrial production costs as well as transportation and business expenses, eventually pushing up the prices of essential commodities and other goods. “The burden will ultimately have to be borne by ordinary people,” he said.
Porwar questioned whether the government had adequately considered the purchasing power of low- and middle-income groups and the overall economic situation before announcing the hike.
“Passing the burden of instability in the international market directly onto the people can in no way be considered a public welfare policy,” he said.
He called on the government to explore alternatives, reduce costs, prevent waste and irregularities, improve efficiency in fuel management and cut unnecessary expenditure in the sector.
He also demanded strict market monitoring to prevent traders and middlemen from exploiting the fuel price increase to raise the prices of essential goods.
“If the government tries to address the financial pressure on state agencies simply by raising prices, it will have long-term adverse impacts on people’s livelihoods,” Porwar said.
He urged the government to withdraw the Tk 20 increase, saying repeatedly imposing additional economic burdens on people was unacceptable.
Meanwhile, NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam termed the fuel price increase “unjustified” and demanded its immediate withdrawal.
He alleged that the government was making people bear the cost of its inefficiency and mismanagement instead of exploring alternatives to deal with the crisis.
Nahid questioned what had happened to the thousands of crores of taka in profits earned by Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation when global fuel prices were relatively low.
He also demanded temporary reductions in taxes and duties on fuel imports.
Criticising the government’s stated aim of saving around Tk 10,000 crore annually through the price increase, Nahid pointed to the allocation of Tk 44,000 crore in the current fiscal year for implementation of the new pay scale.
The other opposition and political parties also rejected the price hike, warning that it would have a cascading effect across the economy.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Jalaluddin Ahmad, Khelafat Majlis Ameer Abdul Basit Azad and Secretary General Dr Ahmad Abdul Qader, AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju and Secretary General Asaduzzaman Fuad, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party acting Ameer Abdul Qayyum Subhani and Secretary General Musa bin Izhar, and Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Mustafizur Rahman Iran demanded withdrawal of the decision.
They said higher fuel prices would raise agricultural costs, transport fares and industrial expenses, eventually increasing the prices of essential commodities and fuelling inflation.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh also held a protest procession in Dhaka on Monday against the Tk 20 increase in the prices of diesel, petrol and octane.
The party’s Dhaka Metropolitan South unit organised the procession to protest the government decision, adding to growing opposition to the fuel price increase.
The government raised the retail prices of diesel, petrol and octane by Tk 20 a litre from Monday, a move that has triggered criticism from political parties over its likely impact on household expenses, transport costs and the broader economy.
