Clicky
National, Front Page

Writ petition filed challenging fuel price hike


Published : 08 Aug 2022 10:00 PM

A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Monday challenging the legality of the latest hike in fuel prices in the country.

Supreme Court Advocate Md Eunus Ali Akond filed the writ petition.

The writ petition sought the HC’s directive to stay the gazette issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources raising fuel prices.

The HC bench of Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo may hear the writ petition on Wednesday.

Lawyer Eunus Ali said Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has the authority to raise the fuel price according to the law. But the fuel prices were increased through issuing a gazette by the ministry.

According to that gazette, this decision was taken as per the order of the President. But the constitution does not give the president the authority to raise the fuel prices and for this reason the writ petition was filed, he added.

The government hiked the price sof fuel by a big margin on Friday.

Diesel price has been increased by Tk 34 to Tk 114 per litre while octane price hiked by Tk 46 to Tk 135 and petrol by Tk 44 to Tk 130.

BSS adds: A writ petition was filed Monday in the High Court Division, challenging the validity of the fuel price hike.

A High Court bench comprising of Justice Md Mujibur Rahman Mia and Justice Kazi Md Ezarul Haque Akondo may hear the writ petition, said the petitioner Advocate Yunus Ali Akanda.

The writ petition sought the HC directives to stay the gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources increasing fuel price on August 5. 

Secretary of energy division, its deputy secretary and chairman of BERC have been made respondents in the writ petition.