In a move that is expected to make some breathing room for the industries, the Bangladesh Government, which on 18 January hiked gas prices by a massive 179%, declared to be effective from 1 February, is likely to defer the same to April instead of February.
Interacting with the textile sector entrepreneurs recently, Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, reportedly claimed the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) has already decided to defer the gas price hike till March even as it was pushing to dela it by another month.
“Once a decision is made, a formal announcement will be made,” reportedly said Salman even as the President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Mohammad Ali Khokon, on his part said the Prime Minister’s adviser has assured the textile makers that the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd will not demand additional security money from them and if charged, every mill owner will have to deposit an additional Taka 8-10 crore and went on to add further that in a meeting at PMO last week, they have got a hint that the price hike will be deferred to March.