The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has held a public hearing on a proposal to nearly double gas prices for fertilizer factories—from Tk 16 to Tk 40 per unit. Petrobangla and six gas distribution companies argued that the price hike would reduce financial losses and help sustain gas supply, while a BERC technical committee suggested Tk 30 as a more balanced rate. Critics at the hearing warned that higher gas costs would raise fertilizer production expenses, potentially driving up prices for farmers and consumers. The Agriculture Ministry stated that the government currently subsidizes Tk 13,000 per ton of fertilizer and intends to maintain stable prices for farmers. However, the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) criticized previous unfulfilled promises of uninterrupted gas supply, noting a drop of 300,000 tons in annual fertilizer production. Stakeholders urged caution, emphasizing that gas supply must be ensured before any price increase.