<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">The electricity tariff in Bangladesh hiked by 5 percent at the retail level is still less than that of many developed countries, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Friday.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">A slight increase in electricity tariff is proposed to adjust the subsidy borne by the government, he told the reporters at Rajshahi Circuit House.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Our government is counting thousands of crores in subsidies for the power sector so that the people do not suffer and can get electricity at a cheap price.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rising fuel prices in Europe and the UK are driving electricity rationing, driving up prices. But in Bangladesh, the price has not been increased in that way as the power sector is still dependent on fossil fuels, he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The government has raised the electricity tariff by 5 percent at the retail level that will be effective from January 1.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now the average tariff for all consumers will go up by Tk0.36 to Tk7.49 from Tk7.13, the Power Division said in a media statement Thursday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Regarding the prime minister’s rally in Rajshahi on January 29, Hasan said the rally will be in a field, but the whole city will turn into a rally that day. There will be millions of people joining the rally.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We believe in the power of the people. And they (BNP) believe in conspiracy and the power of arms. So, all evil forces should be eliminated by the power of the people and that should be shown in the rally of Rajshahi on January 29.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Marking the PM’s rally here, Hasan Mahmud arrived in Rajshahi this morning for an exchange of views with local leaders and a field visit. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>