DHAKA: The technical evaluation committee of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Tuesday recommended increasing the bulk power price by 5.16 percent.

The committee made the recommendation in a mass hearing on the process of hiking power price at TCB Bhaban at Karwan Bazar in the city in the morning.

BERC chairman MR Khan, member Dr Selim Mahmud, and engineers Delwar Hossain, Rahman Murshed and Maksudul Haq received the mass hearing.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) proposed to increase the power price by 18.12 percent (Tk 0.85 per unit) at wholesale level.

It said currently the cost of power production and distribution one unit is Tk 6.54 whereas the price at wholesale level is Tk 4.67 per unit.

Meanwhile, the leaders and activists of Biplobi Workers Party, Gonotantrik Biplobi Party, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Andalon and Ganasanghati Andalon held sit-ins outside the TCB Bhaban in protest of the power price hike.

Chief coordinator of Ganasanghati Andalon Zonayed Saki told banglanews the process of hiking power price is illegal. “There is no justification and this is why we are protesting the matter,” he said.

BDST: 1530 HRS, JAN 20, 2015