PM may consider if tariff hike seems intolerable: Obaidul

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said if the power and gas price hike seems “intolerable” for the people, the prime minister might consider the issue.

Addressing a discussion at the BMA Auditorium in Dhaka, the minister said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would never make any decision that may go against the people’s interest.”

“Because of the huge amount of subsidy in the power and gas sector, the government had no alternative but increase the power and gas tariff,” the minister added.

Meanwhile, the minister also lambasted ruling alliance leaders who are criticising the power and gas tariff hike.

Admitting that the new move might affect the communication sector, the minister asked the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to keep the costs at a tolerable level after discussing with the stakeholders.

Talking to The Daily Star over phone, the minister said, “The BRTA will sit in a meeting soon to adjust transport fair following the tariff hike.”