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The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has come under scrutiny over repeated increases and adjustments in fuel prices, with the parliamentary committee on public undertakings seeking a clear explanation for the measures and the corporation’s overall role in addressing the country’s fuel situation.
The committee sought specific explanations from the BPC at its first meeting of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad’s committee on public undertakings, held at the Parliament complex on Tuesday.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Whip and committee chairman Nurul Islam Moni, discussed the current situation in the energy sector, the country’s fuel supply and distribution system, and future plans.
Committee members raised questions about the BPC’s performance and administrative decisions, particularly the reasons behind the fuel crisis that emerged after the new government took office.
They questioned how the crisis was resolved through increases in fuel prices when the supply and distribution arrangements remained unchanged during and after the crisis.
The committee sought a clear and logical explanation from senior BPC officials on the matter.
The meeting also examined the reasons for repeated fuel price increases and adjustments in light of global market conditions and the domestic situation. Members discussed how fuel prices could be kept within the purchasing capacity of ordinary people.
The management roles of the three state-owned fuel distribution companies under the BPC, Padma Oil PLC, Meghna Petroleum PLC and Jamuna Oil PLC, also came under review.
The committee instructed the authorities to submit a detailed report at its next meeting on the country’s current fuel demand, existing storage capacity and preparedness to deal with possible shortages in the future.
It also recommended preparing a modern, realistic and time-befitting roadmap for keeping fuel prices within the reach of ordinary consumers and presenting it to the parliamentary committee.
Among others, Whip Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, Whip Md Akhteruzzaman Mia, Mst Tahsina Rushdi, Khondaker Abu Ashfaq, Mohammad Kaysar Ahmed, Bishwas Jahangir Alam, Md Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan and Mohammad Najibur Rahman attended the meeting.
The secretary in charge of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, senior officials from the BPC and officials from the Parliament Secretariat were also present.