The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the latest increase in gas and power prices would not be declared illegal.
An HC bench comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam came up with the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB).
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has been asked to respond to the rule.
The court also asked the commission to explain why it should not be directed to reconsider the price hike decision.
It also issued another rule asking to explain why the indifference of the BERC to the CAB pleas would not be declared illegal.
On August 27, CAB filed two petitions to the BERC to reconsider the decision of gas and power price hike. But, BERC did not pay hid to its pleas.
The BERC in August increased the retail power prices by 2.97 percent and gas prices by 26.29 percent, effective from Sep 1. CAB filed the writ petition on September 7, challenging the hike.
Advocate M Saiful Alam, who represented the petitioner in the hearing, said the decision of power or gas price hike has to be taken within 90 days of a public hearing on the hike proposal. But, in this case, the decision was taken after seven months of public hearing.
CAB filed another petition with the BERC for review of the price hike decision but the commission has not yet responded to the plea.