Increased sharp fuel prices in Bangladesh see protests erupting throughout the country. The increase, according to the Bangladesh media, is the “highest”, has raised the price of gasoline and diesel by more than 50 percent. Bangladesh is another Indian neighbor after Sri Lanka Island, such a demonstration has been hit. Angry demonstrators surround the fuel station throughout Bangladesh demanding an unexpected price increase in reversed.
This increase was announced by the Sheikh Hasina government on Friday, after that the diesel level rose 34 taka per liter, octane by 46 taka per liter and gasoline by 44 taka per liter. Some Bangladesh media outlets said that the increase in fuel prices 51.7 percent was the highest since the country received independence.
Some videos appear on social media that show people queuing up at the late at night fuel station to fill their tanks.
The economy of $ 416 billion in South Asia has become one of the fastest developing in the world for years. However, the soaring energy and food prices have increased import bills, encouraging the government to find loans from global lending institutions, including international monetary funds.
Several protest marches were held against government decisions. Among them are the Student Union, who held a protest in front of the National Museum in Capital Dhaka.
Ordinary people have difficulty overcoming increasing living costs. The looting of the government for public property and mismanagement leads people towards this suffering, “one of the protesters was quoted by Dhaka Tribune.
The bus operator raised the price after the government’s announcement, which was rejected by groups such as Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS). They said that the new bus fares must be determined after the “appropriate cost analysis”, according to Dhaka Tribune.
The increase in fuel prices cannot be avoided considering the global market conditions, the Bangladesh Ministry of Energy said in a statement, noted Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) managed by the government had suffered a loss of more than 8 billion taka ($ 85 million) in the sale of oil in six months until July.
The new price does not seem to be tolerated by everyone. But we have no other choice. People must be patient,” Nasrul Hamid, State Minister, Energy and Mineral Resources told reporters on Saturday. He said the price would be adjusted if the global price dropped.