Power tariff hike questioned

The High Court on Sunday raised legal question about a 23 November 2017 decision of hiking power tariff at retailer and wholesale level.

The court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned why Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) decision would not be declared illegal.

An HC bench of justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and justice Md Ashraful Kamal issued the rule after hearing the writ petition.

The BERC, the chairman of BERC and the secretary power, energy and mineral resources ministry have been asked to reply the rule within four weeks.

Engineer Mobashwar Hasan filed the writ on 23 May challenging the decision.

Jyotirmoy Barua, who stood for the petitioner, said that BERC held a mass hearing from 25 September to 5 October in last year.

According to law, it was supposed to give a written order within 90 days after mass hearing.

However, without giving any written order, the government took the decision of hiking of price.