JS body seeks realistic plan to keep fuel prices tolerable

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings has recommended that the relevant authorities formulate and present a timely and realistic plan to keep fuel prices at a tolerable level for consumers.

The recommendation was made at the committee’s first meeting at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Tuesday (29 September), chaired by its chairman and Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni.

The meeting reviewed the activities of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and its subordinate organisations, with particular focus on fuel pricing, supply and preparedness to meet the country’s growing energy demand.

The committee discussed the reasons behind increases and adjustments in petroleum product prices at different times, ways to keep prices within a tolerable range, and the roles of Padma Oil PLC, Meghna Petroleum PLC and Jamuna Oil PLC in raising or reducing fuel prices.

The committee also sought an explanation from the BPC as to why the fuel crisis ended after fuel prices were increased, despite the fuel supply system remaining unchanged both during and after the crisis following the assumption of office by the present government.

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The committee asked the BPC to provide detailed information at its next meeting. It also recommended that the concerned authorities develop a practical and up-to-date plan to keep fuel prices affordable for consumers and present it before the committee.

The meeting was attended by committee members and whips Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu and Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman Mia, as well as Mst Tahsina Rushdi, Khondaker Abu Ashfaq, Mohammad Kaysar Ahmed, Biswas Jahangir Alam, Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan and Mohammad Najibur Rahman.