BERC suspends 73pc jet fuel price hike hours after announcement

Dhaka: The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has stepped back from its earlier decision to sharply increase jet fuel prices.

At an emergency meeting on March 18, the regulator initially approved a significant hike — around 73 percent — in jet fuel rates. A notice was issued stating that the revised prices would take effect from midnight the same day.

However, within roughly an hour, BERC released a second notification suspending the implementation of the new prices.

In its initial announcement, the commission had justified the increase by pointing to global factors, including Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Under the proposed revision, jet fuel prices for domestic flights were set to rise from BDT 112.41 per liter to BDT 194.18 per liter — an increase of BDT 81.77 per liter. For international flights, prices were to go up from USD 0.7384 per liter to USD 1.2689 per liter.

Sources within BERC indicated that the commission is expected to hold another meeting on March 25, where a final decision on jet fuel pricing may be taken.