Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman on Saturday expressed confidence that the recent increase in fuel and electricity prices would not have a major impact on the market.
“We do not believe this will create any significant disruption in the market,” he said while speaking at an emergency briefing on energy and power issues held at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room at the Secretariat.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon was also present at the briefing.
Responding to a question regarding the timing of the price adjustment ahead of the national budget session, Zahed Ur Rahman said revisions in fuel and electricity prices become necessary from time to time.
He said the government remains mindful of the impact of price adjustments on people’s cost of living and is striving to balance financial sustainability with consumer protection.
Information adviser said that the government is set to allocate nearly Tk41,000 crore in subsidies in the upcoming national budget to offset the rising costs of electricity generation and distribution.
He noted that prices of essential commodities, particularly vegetables and other fresh produce, typically rise around the budget period. However, he said current market trends indicate greater stability compared to previous years.
“There has been an upward trend, but we are now seeing signs of improvement,” he said.
The adviser also pointed to the growing burden of government subsidies, saying excessive subsidy expenditures reduce the state’s capacity to invest in development projects, healthcare, education and social safety net programmes.
Referring to ongoing welfare initiatives such as farmer cards and family cards, he said the government must ensure adequate funding to continue supporting vulnerable groups.
While acknowledging that price hikes are never desirable, Zahed Ur Rahman said the Ministry of Commerce would closely monitor the market to prevent any unjustified increase in commodity prices.
He maintained that the impact of the latest price adjustments would remain limited because low-income and vulnerable groups are being protected through various government support measures.
“We have not increased electricity or fuel prices for vulnerable consumers, and many of them will continue to receive government assistance and allowances,” he said.
A large number of low-income households are expected to benefit from the family card programme in the upcoming budget, alongside continued support through other social protection schemes, including Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) programmes, he added.
The adviser also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to taking action against any unreasonable price hikes in the market following the fuel and electricity price adjustments.
