DE Online Desk:
The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has voiced strong concern over the recent gas price hike, saying it unfairly penalizes new investors and risks undermining the country’s investment climate.
In a letter sent to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on April 15, BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said the revised tariff structure—announced on April 13—requires new investors to pay 33 percent more for gas than existing ones, a move he described as discriminatory.
“This discriminatory policy will discourage new investments,” Ashik said in the letter. “Investors are already considering this decision unfair and have taken a stand against it.”
BIDA stressed that it is not opposed to the government’s efforts to reduce subsidies, but called for greater transparency and clear communication around such decisions to avoid confusion and eroding investor confidence.
The agency also criticised the timing of the announcement, which came just days after the “Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025” held from April 7 to 10.
The summit, organized by BIDA, drew some 450 investors and business leaders from 40 countries, many of whom expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh.
“Several investors signed MoUs and agreements to invest in the country. The announcement of a discriminatory gas price hike right after the summit will undoubtedly create negative sentiment among them,” Ashik said.
He urged BERC to reconsider the decision and adopt an investment-friendly pricing model.
He also proposed holding a workshop to review and analyze the impact of the revised gas tariff.
Attempts to reach BIDA Chairman Ashik Chowdhury for further comment were unsuccessful.