The High Court has issued a rule asking why the latest increase in power and gas prices shall not be declared ‘beyond legal authority’.
The bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam issued the rule on Monday after a petition filed by Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB).
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) and its chairman have been asked to respond to the rule.
The commission in August increased the retail power prices by 2.97 percent and gas prices by 26.29 percent, effective from Sep 1.
CAB filed the petition on Sep 7, challenging the hike.
Following the court order, Advocate M Saiful Alam, who represented the petitioner in the hearing, said the law bars BERC from increasing power or gas prices after 90 days of a public hearing on a hike proposal.
“But in this case, the price hike decision was made in more than 90 days after the hearing,” he said.
CAB filed another petition with the BERC for review of the price hike decision but the commission has not yet responded to the plea.
The High Court rule also asked why the ‘inaction’ of the commission shall not be declared ‘illegal’.