Dhaka, Sep 22 (V7N)- Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman has urged the public to be “kind” and understand the government’s difficulties following the recent increase in fuel prices.
He made the remarks on Tuesday (September 22) afternoon while responding to journalists’ questions about whether the fuel-price hike could make the government unpopular.
“We seek this much kindness from the people. The public is facing hardship, and will continue to face it,” Zahed said, urging people to consider the government’s ability to provide subsidies.
He said the issue of fuel prices was not unique to Bangladesh, noting that governments in other countries, including the United States, have also faced political and economic pressures over fuel costs.
Zahed said Bangladesh also faces electoral considerations, with local government elections ahead, but argued that the government could not simply maintain subsidies regardless of their financial implications. He said the government must balance spending on fuel subsidies with allocations for health, education and social protection.
No IMF condition for fuel-price hike
The adviser said there was no condition or pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) requiring Bangladesh to increase fuel prices. He said the IMF generally discourages excessive subsidies, but the government does not necessarily follow every IMF recommendation in all areas.
The government increased the prices of diesel, kerosene, petrol and octane by Tk 20 per litre from September 21. Diesel is now Tk 135 per litre, kerosene Tk 155, petrol Tk 160 and octane Tk 165. The government has attributed the adjustment to higher international fuel prices and increased import costs.
Pay scale and social protection
Zahed said government employees had not received a revised pay scale since 2015, while inflation had increased household expenses. He said a new pay scale would be implemented in phases.
At the same time, he said the government was continuing social protection measures through programmes including Family Cards, Open Market Sale (OMS) and the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
‘No political crisis’
Addressing concerns over political instability, Zahed said there was no political crisis in the country and that opposition parties were free to conduct programmes through constitutional means.
However, he said the government would not tolerate attempts to create instability through crude-bomb explosions or setting buses on fire. He added that law enforcement agencies were maintaining a strict stance and those responsible for such incidents would face legal action.
END/SMA/AJ
