Jamaat Demands Withdrawal of LPG Price Hike, Golam Parwar Warns of 'New Crisis in Public Life'

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has protested the decision to raise the price of a 12kg LPG cylinder by Tk 223 to Tk 2,060. In a statement issued on Monday, the party's Secretary General Golam Parwar said the abnormal increase in the price of LPG would create a new crisis in public life.

In the statement, Golam Parwar said that at a time when ordinary people are already struggling with the rising prices of daily essentials, raising the price of LPG again would create fresh suffering in public life. Raising the price of a 12kg cylinder by Tk 223 within the space of just one month would further increase families' household expenses.

He said it would become especially difficult for low- and middle-income families to bear this additional cost.

Golam Parwar said the responsibility cannot end simply with raising the price. LPG has long been sold in the market at prices higher than the government-fixed rate. In the capital itself, there are complaints that a 12kg cylinder is selling for Tk 2,200 to Tk 2,300, yet effective market monitoring and accountability in this regard are not being ensured.

He also said that placing the burden of additional costs on consumers on the pretext of increasing the commissions of importers, dealers and retailers is in no way acceptable. He added that the blame for mismanagement in the energy sector and failure to control the market cannot be passed on to the general public.

Golam Parwar said repeatedly raising fuel prices without considering the people's purchasing power does not reflect responsible government.

In the statement, he demanded that the government immediately withdraw the LPG price increase, ensure the sale of gas at the government-fixed price, take effective measures to stop syndicates and unjustified profits, and carry out regular market monitoring in the interest of consumers.