The government yesterday increased the electricity price once again by 5 percent at the retail level -- the second hike in 19 days as it steadily retracts subsidies from the power sector while piling the burden on common people already struggling with inflation.

Medical treatments are about to get costlier as production cost for manufacturing  drugs will go up by at least 25 per cent following a recent hike in gas and power charges, according to manufacturers.

Public money is being used to shore up PDB's losses and pay profiteering private companies

The government yesterday raised the electricity price for consumers, on average, by 5 percent, skirting around procedures of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC).

As feared, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has asked for a massive hike in bulk rate of power by 14.78 percent to Tk 5.59 per kilowatt-hour unit from the present rate of Tk 4.87 which, in effect, will trickle down to retail consumers ultimately. Understandably, it has drawn the ire of consumer groups and businesses alike.

State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid yesterday said a proposal had been sent to Bangladesh Energy Regulatory