Power tariff being raised frequently to manage corruption: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday alleged that the government is frequently increasing the price of electricity to "manage corruption" in the power sector.

"The power tariff was increased by 5% last night for the third time in a few months. The main reason behind it is that the government needs to take money from the people's pockets to meet the ever-increasing cost of corruption in the power sector," he said.

Speaking at a views-exchange meeting, the BNP leader also said the government has been increasing the price of electricity step by step only because of corruption and plundering public money.

He said the power tariff hike is badly affecting the country's economy. "That is why the production cost of all goods and factory products is increasing. The cost of living is increasing, putting huge pressure on the people."

As part of their ongoing talks with former and current local government representatives of the party, BNP top leaders had the meeting with the party's current and former Union Parishad chairmen in Barishal division at its chairperson's Gulshan office.

On 23 February, the BNP initiated such talks with the first meeting with the party's present and ex-UP chairmen from Rangpur division.

The electricity tariff was raised further at both retail levels on Tuesday night with effect from Wednesday – for the third time in two months.