Play store
There is no condition from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) requiring Bangladesh to raise fuel prices, Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday.
He made the remarks at a press briefing at the Press Information Department in Dhaka when asked whether the latest fuel-price hike was linked to any IMF condition.
The government raised the prices of all four petroleum products by Tk20 per litre from Monday. Diesel now costs Tk135, kerosene Tk155, petrol Tk160 and octane Tk165 per litre.
The government said the adjustment was made in response to higher international fuel prices and increased import costs.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit also said the government had been compelled to adjust fuel prices amid the international and Middle East crises.
He said the government had kept fuel prices below international levels despite mounting losses at Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation. He also cited concerns over fuel smuggling and the need to preserve funds for social protection programmes.