A highly placed source in the energy ministry yesterday said the prices of kerosene and diesel would be increased by Tk 4 to Tk 30 per litre. The prices of petrol and octane are going to be hiked by Tk 6 and Tk 7 to Tk 42 and Tk 45, the source added.

"The decision to raise the fuel prices has been finalised. But what the prices would be is yet to be finalised. It will be decided and the increased price would be effective from Sunday," Energy Adviser Mahmudur Rahman told news agency BDNEWS yesterday.

This is the eighth instance the fuel prices have been hiked since the alliance government came to power in 2001.

Meantime, hearing the news of the latest price hike of petroleum, many of the fuel stations in the city stopped their sales since yesterday afternoon. Consumers said the stations would resume sales after the government announces the increased prices.