Dhaka: BNP on Friday threatened to take to the streets if the government implements the ‘illegal’ proposal for hiking the gas tariffs.

‘The government is out to increase the gas tariffs again to inflict sufferings on common people. An unjustified proposal was made to hike the gas prices by 103 percent only to plunder public money,’ said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, reports the UNB.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said the government’s move to raise the gas tariffs is ‘illegal’ and ‘inhuman’ one..

‘We would like to clearly say the government must back off from its anti-people move to hike the gas prices. Otherwise, we’ll take to the streets with strong programmes to realise our demands,’ the BNP leader warned.

Mentioning that the gas prices were raised six times over the last 10 years, he said the government’s latest move to raise the gas tariffs is illogical since fuel prices are stable on the international market.

Rizvi said common people well be affected badly if the gas tariffs are hiked. ‘It’ll also hamper production in mills and factories and increase unemployment.’

He said transport fares will also go up if the gas prices are hiked. ‘It’ll ultimately increase people’s cost of living.’

The BNP leader also renewed their party’s demand for ensuring better treatment for their ailing party chief Khaleda Zia and her release from jail.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) held a four-day long public hearing on proposals for raising gas prices since Monday.

During the hearing, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd, Sundarban Gas Company Ltd, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company, and Jalalabad Gas Distribution Company placed identical proposals for hiking the gas tariffs.