A Correspondent:
Jhenaidah: State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit yesterday said the government adjusted fuel price due to over Middle East situation and cross-border smuggling risks.
“The Middle East situation has adversely affected fuel prices in all countries across the world,” he said while replying to a question after a meeting with government officials and representatives of civil socie-ty here.
The state minister said fuel prices in the domestic market were adjusted to prevent smuggling to neigh-boring countries through the border.
Regarding increase of fuel price, Amit said oil prices in the global market remain volatile, adding, “Fuel prices are higher than ours in many neighboring countries. As a result, there is a risk of cross-border smuggling. Considering this, we have increased price of fuel.”
He said the country purchases fuel with remittance, which earned by Bangladeshi expatriates through hard work.
“We also have to consider that the fuel purchased with the hard-earned money of our expatriate brothers and sisters should not be smuggled out of the country,” Amit added.
About possibility of reassessing fuel price, he said the entire world is currently facing the impact of the fuel crisis.
“We hope that the international market situation will improve once the crisis in the Middle East is re-solved. Then fuel prices in the domestic market can also be adjusted,” he added.
The state minister said, “If there is an opportunity to bring price lower than previous period, we will do it.”
About load-shedding, he said the government has been working on it to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply in rural and remote areas during the irrigation season.
“We have planned to expand solar-powered irrigation systems to ensure adequate electricity supply to farmers in the coming days,” he said.
Local lawmakers Ali Azam Mohammad Abu Bakar, Professor Matiar Rahman, Prime Minister’s Political Assistant Rashed Khan, Deputy Commissioner Noman Hossain Prince, District Council Administrator Advocate MA Majid, General Secretary Zahiduzzaman Mona and Jhenaidah Press Club President Asif Iqbal Makhon, among others, attended the meeting.
