Jamaat announces nationwide protest Thursday against electricity price hike

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced nationwide protest programmes on Thursday (4 June) across all metropolitan cities, condemning the government's decision to increase electricity prices and demanding immediate reversal of the tariff hike as well as action to curb rising commodity prices.

In a statement issued tonight (3 June), the party's Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar strongly criticised the recent decision by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), which raised electricity prices by 16.68% at the consumer level and 19.85% at the wholesale level.

Calling the decision "anti-people," he said the sudden tariff hike ahead of the national budget would put additional pressure on already struggling households amid rising living costs.

"The increase in electricity prices would raise production costs in industry and agriculture, potentially slowing down factories, businesses and farming activities, while further pushing up prices of essential goods such as rice, pulses and oil," he added.

Power tariff hiked 16.7% as govt moves to cut subsidy burden

Porwar also alleged that inefficiencies, corruption and capacity charges in quick rental power plants were driving repeated tariff increases, claiming that public funds were being misused in the sector.

"Such an inhumane decision would not have been taken if there was real accountability to the people," he said, urging the government to cancel the price hike and prioritise public interest in the power sector.

As part of the protest programme, Jamaat said all its metropolitan units will stage demonstrations on Thursday. In Dhaka, the protest will be held at 5pm in front of the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.