A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Monday challenging the legality of the latest hike in fuel prices in the country.

Supreme Court Advocate Md Eunus Ali Akond filed the writ petition.

The writ petition sought the HC's directive to stay the gazette issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources raising fuel prices.

The HC bench of Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo may hear the writ petition on Wednesday.

Lawyer Eunus Ali said Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has the authority to raise the fuel price according to the law. But the fuel prices were increased through issuing a gazette by the ministry.

According to that gazette, this decision was taken as per the order of the President. But the constitution does not give the president the authority to raise the fuel prices and for this reason the writ petition was filed, he added.

The government hiked the price sof fuel by a big margin on Friday.

Diesel price has been increased by Tk 34 to Tk 114 per litre while octane price hiked by Tk 46 to Tk 135 and petrol by Tk 44 to Tk 130.