Staff Reporter:
The BNP on Wednesday denounced the government’s decision to double the charge for residential pre-paid gas meters, saying it is an unjustified and anti-people move.
“The rent of the prepaid meter has been doubled overnight from Tk 100 to Tk 200. It’s said that this decision has been taken by adjusting the cost of running and maintaining the meter. It’s an illogical move,” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
He made the remarks while addressing a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
The BNP leader said the charge has been raised at a time when the gas supply situation at the residential level has already seriously deteriorated.
He said there is no gas supply in the houses most of the time, day and night, but the ‘illegal government’ is collecting money using various tactics from the gas users.
“Doubling the meter charge without ensuring gas supply and putting the common people in misery (by suddenly raising the charge) is a manifestation of the government’s anti-people attitude. I, on behalf of BNP, strongly protest and condemn this anti-people decision.”
The state-owned gas distribution companies recently hiked the prepaid meter rent to Tk 200 from 100 without any prior notice.
In a statement on Monday, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited said the meter charge was increased as per the government’s decision to adjust the cost of the installation and mainte-nance of the meter.
Rizvi said the government has been plundering public money as it has no accountability to the people – since it was formed without a mandate from the voters.
