English Transcript

Cập nhật 01/07/2008 17:11:00

Bangladesh has become the latest victim of surging global crude oil costs.

The government has announced it has been forced to hike state-set fuel prices by between 34 and 66 per cent.

Authorities say they have no alternative to the sharp increases because the country can no longer afford to sell petrol, diesel, kerosene and gas at subsidised rates.

The Bangladesh government says the oil subsidy still accounts for 40 per cent of its development budget.

It says if crude oil goes up to 200 US dollars a barrel all development in Bangladesh would stop.

International relief agency World Vision says the global food crisis is forcing some of the poor in Afghanistan to sell their daughters into early marriages.

World Vision says meals are becoming a luxury for many in Afghanistan where half the population live below the poverty line.

Indonesia's energy minister says the government is wary of raising fuel oil prices again ahead of elections next year.

With general elections due next April and presidential elections in June, Purnomo Yusgiantoro says the government would "shoulder" higher global oil prices in the state budget.