Consumers' rights groups staged a demonstration in the city on Wednesday in protest against the proposed gas price hike.
They also criticised the role of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) for its role in dealing the issue by properly scrutinising the price hike proposals.
The Bangladesh Sadharan Nagorik Samaj formed a human-chain in front of the National Press Club in the capital to press their demand of cancelling the proposed gas tariff increase.
Convener of the platform Mohiuddin Ahmed presided over the protest.
BERC, as an independent regulatory body, failed to play its due role in securing people's rights regarding the proposed gas price hike during the recent hearings, he opined.
Coordinator of Gono Songhoti Andolon Zonayed Saki, Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince, and economist Rafiquzzaman Ratan also spoke at the event, among others.
Zonayed Saki urged BERC to explain the energy minister's remark in support of gas price hike, as the minister placed the proposed increase, ignoring the commission.
The speakers also criticised the government for initiating such price hike proposals without taking opinions of the experts concerned on the issue.
They blamed BERC for being biased towards hiking the gas price, ignoring people's interest.
Citing the court observation that if corruption can be curbed by 50 per cent, the proposed gas price hike would not be necessary, the speakers said no action has been taken yet to curb corruption in the sector.
They also alleged that the commission is hiding its real motive from people, and is working in favour of the energy companies.
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