Fuel price surge draws heavy flak from parties

The sudden Tk 20 per litre hike in the prices of diesel, kerosene, petrol and octane has drawn strong protests from several political parties, which have demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision and accused the government of shifting the burden of rising international energy costs onto ordinary consumers.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division announced the revised prices on Sunday night, bringing the new rates into effect from midnight. Diesel now costs Tk 135 per litre, up from Tk 115, while kerosene has risen from Tk 135 to Tk 155, petrol from Tk 140 to Tk 160 and octane from Tk 145 to Tk 165. 

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP) and Islami Andolan Bangladesh staged separate protest processions in Dhaka on Monday. Jamaat’s Dhaka Metropolitan unit brought out a procession from the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 4:30pm, joined by party Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar. Islami Andolan held its procession from Paltan Intersection at 7pm, while the NCP organised one from Banglamotor at 7:30pm.

In a statement, Mia Golam Parwar said: “The government is imposing a financial burden on ordinary people by repeatedly raising fuel prices. Common people are already overwhelmed by the unchecked rise in commodity prices. The balance between income and expenditure for low- and middle-income groups has been disrupted, and people are struggling to meet household expenses.”

He maintained that before raising fuel prices, the government should have pursued alternative arrangements, cost-cutting, greater efficiency in fuel management and measures to curb waste, irregularities and unnecessary expenditure. He also called for strict market monitoring to check irregularities by middlemen.

AB Party Chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju and General Secretary Asaduzzaman Fuad, in a joint statement, expressed concern over the increase in diesel, kerosene, petrol and octane prices, arguing that the government should first have assessed its social and economic consequences. They demanded an immediate review and withdrawal of the decision, along with greater transparency and accountability in the energy sector.

BASAD General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz observed that public life was already under strain from gas, electricity and water crises and soaring commodity prices. He noted that diesel, which is vital for agriculture and public transport, had risen by 17.4 per cent to Tk 135, directly increasing irrigation and production costs.


He added, “The current government has raised fuel prices three times in five months, a move that exposes its anti-people policies.” He demanded immediate withdrawal of the hike and resolution of the gas, electricity and water shortages.

Workers Party Acting President Mahmudul Hasan Manik and Acting General Secretary Nur Ahmad Bakul also protested, warning that higher transport costs would push up the prices of essential commodities, disrupt supplies and deepen pressure on households, agriculture and industry.

BASAD (Marxist) Coordinator Masud Rana questioned the rationale behind the increase, pointing to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation’s reported net profit of about Tk 4,300 crore in 2024-25 and cumulative profits of around Tk 52,000 crore over 11 years. He also cited more than Tk 1.25 lakh crore deposited by the corporation into the state exchequer during the period.

“Why, then, shouldn't the benefits of such profits be passed on to the people?” he asked, arguing that an emergency fuel fund, subsidies from surplus revenue or a reduction in the 31.85 per cent VAT and taxes on diesel imports could have been considered instead.

The government, however, has justified the increase by citing sharply higher international fuel prices and freight costs. According to the Energy Division, BPC incurred losses of about Tk 22,875.66 crore between March and August and was losing around Tk 89 on every litre of diesel, with the latest increase expected to reduce its annual losses by about Tk 10,000 crore. 

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, meanwhile, has maintained that even after the hike the government would still need to provide a subsidy of Tk 14 per litre.