Gas price may bring new decision: Commerce Minister

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has hinted at re-fixing gas prices in the industrial sector. He said that the businessmen will hold a meeting with the Prime Minister soon. A new decision can be made after that. Commerce Minister spoke at the opening ceremony of the Cotton Summit held at a hotel in the capital on Friday.

Read more : New Zealand Prime Minister: Jacinda Resignation Announcement

He said, the new price of gas has been selected in view of the demands of the traders, not the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Businessmen will have a meeting with the Prime Minister on the matter. New decisions can be made after this. However, Tipu Munshi claimed that the price of gas was increased because the traders wanted to take the purchase price.

In addition to gas and electricity, the businessmen published about the increased cost of cotton import. President of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association Mohammad Ali Khokon said that the country needs 9 million bales of cotton annually. Bangladesh produces only one and a half million bales of cotton. To meet the demand, cotton has to be imported from various countries including USA, Australia, India and Pakistan.

Read more : 9 including children killed in Maharashtra micro-truck collision

A businessman said that 20 to 22 thousand hectares of land is cultivating cotton. On the other hand, more than 100,000 hectares of land are cultivating tobacco. At this time, instead of tobacco, the businessmen welcomed the cultivation of cotton.

Recently, the government has decided to increase the price of gas per unit from Tk 11 to Tk 30 per unit for the industrial sector, with effect from next month, to ensure uninterrupted gas supply through its own sources and very expensive imported liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Traders objected to the sudden increase in price by 18 rupees per unit.