After Petrobangla, 6 distribution companies have also submitted proposals to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to increase gas prices. It is known that they have made proposals exactly like Petrobangla in the D-document.

Even the explanation of the rationale for increasing the price has been copied and pasted from the Petrobangla proposal. The cost of importing LNG is high, so the price needs to be increased. Although in the past, the proposal explained what kind of impact raising the price could have on the economy and trade, this time there is no trace of it neither in Petrobangla's proposal nor in the proposal of the distribution companies. The issue has been consciously avoided.

BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed told Barta24.com that proposals have been received from several distribution companies. The technical committee is working on these. Whatever we do, we want to come to a decision as soon as possible. BERC has delayed so that no one can raise questions.

On January 6, Petrobangla proposed to increase the price of gas supplied to new industrial boilers and industrial generators (captive) from Tk. 30 and Tk. 31.75 respectively, while keeping the prices of existing customers unchanged. It is proposed to set half the bill of promised customers (already approved) at the existing rate and the other half at Tk. 75.72.

Legaly, there is no scope to consider Petrobangla's price increase proposal. Only licensees can propose a price increase. Therefore, BERC sent a letter to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC, Paschimchanchal Gas Company Limited, Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company, Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited and Sundarban Gas Company Limited, which are responsible for distribution, seeking price adjustment proposals.

The distribution companies are embarrassed by the proposal for an unusual price increase. None of them see the rationale for increasing prices by 152 percent in industry and captives. Top officials of several companies, on condition of anonymity, said, "Petrobangla is trying to raise prices by putting a gun to our shoulders. Consumers will have to face us in the public hearing. However, we do not agree with this price increase at all. As far as we know, a new price formula has been prepared as per the ministry's request. We have to propose to increase the price despite our reluctance.

Gas is purchased from the state-owned Sylhet Gas Field Company Limited at a rate of 1 taka, from Bangladesh Gas Field Company at a rate of 1.25 taka, and from Bapex at a rate of 4 taka per cubic foot. Then, the average price of gas purchased from multinational companies Chevron Bangladesh and Tallo stands at 6.07 taka per cubic meter.

In Petrobangla's price increase proposal, it said that the current import price of LNG per cubic meter is 65.70 taka. Adding VAT-tax and other charges, it stands at 75.72 taka. As a result, to sustain this sector, the gas price gap will have to be reduced. If LNG is imported as planned, Petrobangla will have a deficit of about Tk. 16,161.71 crore in the current fiscal year.

Business leaders and organizations have reacted strongly to this process of increasing gas prices. They have demanded an immediate stop to the process of increasing gas prices. They believe that industrialization will be stopped if the proposal is approved.

BERC has formed a technical committee to scrutinize the proposal to increase the price of Petrobangla gas. After receiving the report of the technical committee as per the rules, an order was given for a public hearing.

The police have arrested two employees on charges of embezzling Tk. 25 lakh from WASA customers in Chattagram. WASA authorities handed them over to the police on Monday (January 20) afternoon. The arrested are WASA data entry operators Ajmir Hossain and Mithun Das. Preparations are underway to file a case against them on charges of financial irregularities.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chawkbazar Police Station Jahedul Kabir said that WASA authorities have handed over the two to the police. Although we have not received any written complaint yet, appropriate action will be taken after receiving the complaint. On the other hand, WASA Commercial Manager Kazi Shahidul Islam said that we have found irregularities worth Tk. 24 lakh 66 thousand so far. Efforts are being made to find out who else is involved in this gang through investigation. Legal action will be taken against the culprits.

Sources said that this gang had been regularly stealing customers' bill money since 2019. Although they collected the bill money from customers and showed it as a deposit in WASA's computer system, the money was not actually deposited in WASA's bank account.

Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has left for Davos, Switzerland on a four-day official visit to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

An Emirates Airlines flight carrying Professor Yunus and his entourage left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 1am on Monday (January 20), said the Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

During the trip, the Chief Adviser is expected to hold bilateral talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Finnish President Alexander Stubbs, Belgian King Philippe and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The Chief Adviser will also meet Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, daughter of the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, Sir Nick Clegg, President of Global Affairs at Meta, Dr. Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

A separate dialogue on Bangladesh will be held at the World Economic Forum, which will be attended by global business leaders and CEOs of various international organizations.

The Chief Adviser is scheduled to return to the country on January 25.

Dhaka: After finalizing the decision to change the uniforms of Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar as part of the reform, Sarjis Alam, the chief organizer of the National Citizens Committee, gave a special message on Facebook.

On Monday (January 20) afternoon, he made a post on his verified Facebook profile about the change in uniform.

There, he wrote, 'There is no benefit in changing the uniforms without changing the nature, character, and qualities. The problem is not in the uniforms, but in the entire system.'

Meanwhile, the decision to change the uniforms of the law enforcement forces was finalized at the meeting of the Advisory Council in the meeting room of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday (January 20).

Regarding the change in uniforms, the Home Affairs Adviser told the media, along with the uniforms, our mindsets must also change. We all have to prevent corruption. Only then will many things change. The training they had for the last 15 years must also be changed, they must be humane.