Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Monday alleged that the government is trying to hike in gas tariffs to create a chance for ruling party men to plunder public money and maker their pockets heavier.

“Though the gas companies are making huge profits, the government has taken a decision of doubling the gas prices in the space of just nine months. Why are you (govt) going to increase the tariffs when gas sector has been on a hefty profit?” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

He came up with the comment while speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka.

In August, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company proposed increasing the gas prices for domestic users by around twofold while Petrobangla proposed raising bulk gas price from Tk 6.29 per cubic metre to Tk 10.29.

Later, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) assured that the price would be adjusted after a series of justified calculations and the decision would be made within the next 90 days. But, BERC is yet to come up with its final decision in this regard.

Earlier, the government hiked the gas tariffs on September 1, 2015.

Rizvi said common people who are already struggling to lead a normal life will be hit hard further if the government increases the gas tariffs as it will contribute to hike in  all commodity prices, house rent and transport fare.

He also said the gas tariffs hike will put some industries into trouble and hamper their production.

The BNP leader urged the government to shelve its plan to raise the gas prices.