A leading business personality and also the former President of FBCCI Salman F Rahman defended the price hike of gas and electricity in the country saying, "The huge money that was given as subsidy in this sector will now be spent for the overall development of the national economy." He opined that this decision is very pragmatic and rational, we were prepared for the price hike but the implementation of the new price is too early. Salman F Rahman, Vice Chairman of the Beximco Group, made this comment when a delegation of the newly-elected office bearers of the Federation of the Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her Tejgaon office. However, some of the delegation members observed that the decision of enhancing the price of the gas and electricity at this time is not acceptable. Such decision would halt flourishing of industries in the country. It will also increase the production cost of various commodities that will ultimately hit hard the consumers, the delegation members said. The trade leaders opined that it is illogical to increase prices of gas and electricity at a time when the price of oil has drastically reduced in the international market. A delegation led by FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmed, other directors and business leaders were present at the meeting.RI