As queues of vehicles at filling stations continue to grow over fuel shortages, the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has raised jet fuel prices again.
On Tuesday, BERC increased the price of jet fuel for domestic routes by Tk24.79 per litre, setting the new rate at Tk227.08 per litre.
For international routes, the price was raised from $1.3216 per litre to $1.4806 per litre, an increase of more than Tk19 per litre.
The new rates took effect from midnight.
On 24 March, BERC raised the domestic jet fuel price by Tk89.88 per litre.
For international routes, the price was increased by Tk71 per litre, from $0.7384 to $1.3216.
Earlier, on 8 March, BERC raised the domestic price by Tk17.29 per litre and the international price by $0.1184 per litre.
Almost all South Asian countries are struggling
On the same day in parliament, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said almost all South Asian countries were struggling to cope with the situation.
He said oil prices had risen by as much as 50 per cent in Pakistan, while India, Afghanistan, Bhutan, the Maldives and Nepal had followed the same path. He also said Sri Lanka had introduced rationing and reduced working hours.
“That means only Bangladesh has kept fuel oil prices at a normal level,” he said.
“Although fuel prices have risen abnormally in the global market, the government has kept domestic fuel prices unchanged in April, considering industrial production, agricultural activities and the lives of ordinary people,” he added.
Asked by Moulvibazar-2 lawmaker Showkatul Islam whether there were any plans to raise fuel prices, the minister said there was a law governing fuel price hikes and that prices were adjusted every month under that law.
“We did not raise prices after adjustment last month. We are working on next month’s prices. If, after adjustment, it appears that a price increase is now necessary, we will discuss it and consider taking the matter to the cabinet,” he said.
Stocks are adequate
Claiming that the country has adequate fuel stocks, the minister said diesel reserves stood at 1,64,644 tonnes, with another 1,38,000 tonnes due to arrive by 30 April.
He said octane stocks stood at 10,500 tonnes, while a shipment carrying 71,433 tonnes would arrive within April.
Petrol stocks stand at 16,000 tonnes, with another 36,000 tonnes due this month, he added.
He also said deputy commissioners had been instructed to issue agriculture cards, similar to irrigation cards, to ensure that farmers can obtain diesel.
4 million litres recovered in drives
The minister also said that 40,48,456 litres of fuel were recovered in 342 drives conducted between 3 March and 4 April to stop illegal stockpiling.
He said all magistrates had been instructed to run mobile courts to prevent illegal hoarding and overpricing, and that monitoring teams had been formed to oversee supply and supervision.
Meetings on the overall fuel situation are being held every day from 9:30am through Zoom, coordinated by deputy commissioners, he said.
Law enforcement agencies have also been instructed to prevent fuel smuggling, and tag officers have been appointed at every filling station, he added.
