The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) is on the path of increasing prices of gas in new industries. There is a hint that the price will be increased from Tk. 30 to Tk. 40 to Tk.45 taka. It is known that the announcement may come in April.

The source of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) claimed that it is almost certain that the price is increasing to some extent. However, the issue of how much taka will be increased, whether it will increase only in new industries or in existing industries as well, has not been fully finalized. Discussions are underway on several price formulas. Discussions are underway on a formula to reduce prices if the international market price decreases in one formula. In addition, discussions are ongoing on the issue of existing industries.

Petrobangla has proposed to increase the prices of new and promised customers while keeping the prices of existing customers unchanged. Half of the gas bills of the promised customers (already approved) will be at the existing rate, half at Tk. 75.72, and the gas price for new industries and captives will be increased from Tk. 30 and Tk. 31.75 to Tk. 75.72 respectively. In addition, if the existing industries use more gas than the approved rate, the additional gas will be fixed at 75.72 taka.

BERC held a hearing on Petrobangla's price increase proposal on February 26. Petrobangla said in its proposal that if the price is not increased, there will be a deficit of about 16 thousand crore taka per year. There was a storm of criticism over Petrobangla's proposal. In the hearing, businessmen and leaders of business organizations also raised strong objections. Especially in the industry, everyone is against setting two types of prices. But even then, it is known that the executive branch and BERC are walking on the path of increasing prices.

Are prices increasing or not? BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed refused to comment on this issue. In response to another question, the BERC Chairman told Barta24.com, "If the gas price is not increased, an order can be given any day. If the price is increased, it will not be reasonable to announce it before Eid. However, no decision has been finalized yet."

In response to a question, the BERC Chairman said, "There is a policy decision involved here. How much subsidy the government will give is also a consideration here."

Many people objected to the two types of prices in the industry during the hearing. They said that if the existing industry is charged at the existing price, and if additional prices are set for new industries, it will create unequal competition. What does BERC think about this? In response, the Chairman said, "We will analyze the opinions in the commission meeting. Then a decision will be made. Surely, a decision will be made after considering everything."

BERC, Petrobangla and distribution company officials faced fire from the CAB, business organizations and industrial owners during the hearing on gas price increase. Many questioned BERC's role in holding the hearing, calling the proposal unreasonable. This is the first time that unprecedented protests have occurred during the hearing.

In the hearing, BKMEA President Hatem Ali said, "I humbly request you to stop the hearing of this pointless and unreasonable proposal. If the price is increased from Tk. 30 to Tk. 75, no new industries will grow, the industrial sector will be destroyed. I hope you will not conspire to destroy the industrial sector."

BTMEA President Shawkat Aziz Russell said, "We are trapped by investing. We cannot close the business because we have bank loans. Otherwise, we would have closed it long ago. The Tk 30 we are paying now is too much. We are not getting gas, and you have come up with a proposal to increase the price. Do you want to hand over the business to India? Please do not hand over the industry to India."

Petrobangla buys gas from several sources. The state-owned Sylhet Gas Field Company and Bangladesh Gas Field Company are paid about Tk. 28 per thousand cubic feet, and Bapex is paid about Tk. 112.

Chevron Bangladesh, a multinational company that extracts gas from the country's mines, is paid 2.76 dollars per thousand cubic feet of gas, while Tallo is paid $2.31. On the other hand, in the first 7 months of the 2024-25 fiscal year, the price of LNG imported from Qatar was 10.66 dollars and the price of LNG imported from Oman was 10.09 dollars. Due to decades of stagnation in oil and gas exploration, Bangladesh has had to resort to imports. Energy experts believe that the situation could become more dire in the future if exploration activities are not strengthened.

The Bangladesh Army has said that the physical condition of the child who was tortured in Magura is critical. At the same time, they have also sought prayers from the countrymen for the child.

This call was made through a notification on the Facebook page of the Bangladesh Army on Wednesday (March 12) night.

The notification said that the child who was tortured in Magura is undergoing treatment at the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) of the Children's Department of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka. Necessary tests are being done every day as per the standard ICU protocol and the highest medical care is being provided accordingly. The child suffered cardiac arrest four times today and was stabilized by providing CPR. Dialysis is being done due to salt imbalance in her blood. Along with other complications, the child's blood pressure is 60/40, which is further decreasing.

The high-level medical board, consisting of expert doctors from the Combined Military Hospital, is making every effort to save the child's life through the most modern medical methods.

The Bangladesh Army seeks prayers from the countrymen for the child's recovery.

It is to be noted that the child was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka at 6 pm on March 8, 2025 in critical condition. 

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the chief adviser of the interim government, commented that journalism has become a blood sucking industry in Bangladesh.

He said this at a discussion meeting organized by the Multimedia Reporters Association at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club on Wednesday (March 12th).

He said that journalism has become a blood sucking industry in Bangladesh. How the blood of journalists can be sucking is being done. If you do not pay for years, they do not pay. Journalists should make a new movement to increase salaries.

Shafiqul Alam said, "We want every journalist to get good salary." Minimum so that there is a floor. All journalists in Bangladesh must have a floor salary. Must have a minimum basic. Be it 30 thousand or 35 thousand. Can't go down. The media who gives it below will be closed.

"We do not need to do bad journalism," the press secretary said. For those who do journalism, they will have to give the Intellectual Property Right. And they have to evaluate. They have to pay according to a basic.

He also said that during Sheikh Hasina's time, there was no media freedom. We (journalist) have made this Hasina pushed back with your hands. If you have an octopular journalist in Bangladesh, it is a multimedia journalist and photo journalist. Their contribution to this movement is memorable.

`Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, has stated that the idea of reducing cigarette consumption by increasing taxes is not working.’

On Wednesday (March 12), Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, stated that the idea of reducing cigarette consumption by increasing taxes is not working. He made this remark at a workshop on effective taxation and price hikes of tobacco products for the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal budget, held at the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) office in Paltan, Dhaka.

Shafiqul Alam said that increasing taxes should reduce cigarette consumption, and for the past 20 years, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has been pressured to implement this measure. However, this approach has not been effective.

He further noted that abruptly stopping cigarette consumption is not possible. According to him, anti-tobacco organizations have attempted to reduce tobacco use by urging the NBR to increase VAT instead of focusing on social awareness, but this approach has completely failed.

The Press Secretary also stated that all organizations working against tobacco use have failed. He emphasized the need for new strategies to make the country tobacco-free. Raising awareness and conducting nationwide campaigns could bring significant changes in cigarette consumption, he suggested.

Shafiqul Alam also mentioned that discouraging tobacco farmers from production is not possible without offering viable alternatives.