The High Court has suspended for three months the activities of the committee formed by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to recommend adjustment of natural gas prices at the retail and wholesale levels.
At the same time, the court has questioned the BERC's jurisdiction regarding the formation of the committee.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo passed the order on Monday after the primary hearing on a writ petition filed challenging the jurisdiction of the BERC in forming such a body.
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua appeared in the High Court hearing on behalf of the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Arabindo Kumar Roy represented the state.
Lawyer Jyotirmoy said, “As per law, the price of natural gas has to be increased at the consumer level by conducting a public hearing. However, the BERC formed a committee to adjust the prices after a public hearing,
According to law, BERC does not have any jurisdiction to form this committee. Formation of the committee is a clear violation of the law. Due to this, the writ petition is filed challenging the order of the formation of this committee. The court heard it and gave an order along with the rule.”
The BERC formed the committee on June 4 this year. “A committee has been formed to give recommendations for coordinating after hearings on a six-monthly basis,” said the notification issued by the BERC.
On September 12, architect Mobasher Hossain filed the writ petition on behalf of CAB challenging the jurisdiction of the BERC in forming such a body.
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission on June 5 announced a 22.78 per cent natural gas tariff hike for retail consumers in the country with effect from June 1 despite opposition from general users and trade bodies.
As per the fresh tariff chart, household consumers will have to pay Tk 990 instead of the previous price of Tk 925 a month for a single burner, while double burner users will have to pay Tk 1,080 instead of previous price of Tk 975.
