Writ filed seeking postponement of record fuel oil price

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court (HC) challenging the legality of fuel price hike by a record margin.

The writ has sought the postponement of the gazette issued on 5 August over the increase of diesel, petrol and octane prices by the power, energy and mineral resources ministry.

Supreme Court (SC) lawyer Yunus Ali Akanda on Monday filed the writ, attaching a report of Prothom Alo titled ‘Record hike of diesel and petrol price’ published on 6 August.

Yunus Ali told Prothom Alo that the price was hiked by 33 to 52 per cent, resulting in sufferings to the people including farmers and labourers. In this regard, the public opinion was ignored, he added.

The lawyer said the court may conduct the hearing next week.

Three top officials, including energy secretary and the chairman of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission, were made defendants in the writ.