Proposed hike in gas price exorbitant

I became astonished to read the news item, “Household gas may get costlier” published on TDS, September 23, 2014. It is stated that the government has prepared a proposal to raise the household gas prices and after the hike, it might be Tk 750 or 1000 for using a double burner stove, whereas a household currently has to pay Tk 450 a month for a double burner stove.

I don't get what kind of price hike is this, from 450 to 750/1000! Does the government think this is an affordable price for the middle and lower class people of the country? I don't want to talk about the upper class because they always get the privileges, but how on earth someone can propose such an abnormal hike of gas? The government showed the reason that they are doing this with a view to reducing consumers' reliance on piped gas and encouraging them to use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). But they are not considering the fact that currently, an LPG cylinder costs between Tk 1300 and Tk 1400. The government should keep their lame excuses to themselves before befooling the people by showing weird reasons for arranging a hike.

Momtaz Imam
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