Lawmakers of the Jatiya Party today walked out of the parliament protesting hike in prices of power and gas.

The JP lawmakers headed by Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad staged the walkout around 7:15pm.

The also demanded a reduction in fuel prices.   

Earlier, speaking on a point of order in the House, Raushan said petroleum price should be reduced to match the low fuel price in the international market.

She said it is a wrong decision to increase the gas and power tariff.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) increased power and gas prices with effect from September 1.

The price hike is happening at a time when the public gas companies are making large profits and per unit power generation cost has gone down by a certain degree.

Under the new rates, households using a single-burner stove will have to pay 50 percent more with the monthly gas price going up to Tk 600 from Tk 400. For double-burner stove users, the tariff has been raised to Tk 650 from Tk 450 a month.

Industries that turn gas into electricity through generators will see gas tariff double -- Tk 8.36 from Tk 4.18 per cubic metre.