AMN/ WEB DESK
The Government of Bangladesh announced a price hike of 15 Taka per litre for diesel and kerosene from 65 taka per litre to 80 taka per litre effective from midnight Thursday. The Ministry of power, energy and mineral resources announced in a press statement on Wednesday that the prices of other petroleum products will remain unchanged.
The government clarified that the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) was incurring a loss of Taka 20 crore per day as it was selling diesel at a price of Taka 13.01 lower than the import price. It said that the price hike has been done against the backdrop of the rise in international prices of petroleum.
Reacting to the sharp hike in prices, the bus, truck and covered van owners of Bangladesh have announced an indefinite nationwide strike from Friday. The decision was taken following an emergency meeting of the association, reports the news agency UNB.
Earlier, the government had sharply raised the toll of the Bangabandhu bridge and Muktarpur bridge without any reason said the transport association leaders. They said that the transport owners are finding it hard to make a turnaround after the losses incurred during the COVID 19 induced shutdown in the country. The petroleum price hike will add further burden on them.