The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Wednesday faced a strong protest while it was holding a hearing on the proposed gas price hike for the industrial and captive sectors.

The regulator held the public hearing at the Biam Auditorium in the capital Dhaka where the participating representatives strongly opposed the initiative, labeling the BERC as an anti-people commission.

The protesters demanded the immediate withdrawal of the proposed price hike by Sunday, warning that failure to do so could lead to a widespread protest in the country.

The proposal seeks to increase the per-unit gas price for new industrial and captive sector connections from Tk 30 to Tk 75.72.

The protesters argued that such a sharp hike would severely impact investment, businesses and industries, ultimately harming the country’s overall economy.

Shamsul Alam, energy adviser to the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), criticised the move, saying, “Not just the energy sector, but the entire country is becoming import-dependent due to such policies. The proposed gas price hike move has gone dangerously against the people’s interest. There should not even be a public hearing on such a proposal. It must be stopped.”

During the hearing, business representatives, CAB members and leaders from several organisations demanded the cancellation of the proposal.