The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) today submitted a petition, signed by 25,720 persons, urging the energy ministry for not signing the Energy Charter Treaty as the signing of the treaty will affect the public interest and the nation’s energy sector.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given directives to the respective ministry to clarify once again the reason behind the fuel price hike.

The government has cut the price of furnace oil by more than 30 percent to Tk 42 a litre as oil prices continue to remain low on the international market for nearly two years.

Gas supply to all the CNG refuelling stations are to remain suspended for 24 hours from Friday midnight for emergency maintenance at Bibiyana gas field, said an energy ministry media release today.