Dhaka, April 19 -- Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood has said the government was forced to raise fuel prices because of the Iran war and its impact on import costs.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday, he said the adjustment had been made to keep the burden of buying fuel in foreign currency within a tolerable range.

"We were compelled to do this," he said.

"Fuel has to be bought in foreign currency, so we have taken steps to keep the pressure at a tolerable level."

Earlier in the day, Iqbal and State Minister for Power and Energy Aninda Islam Amit briefed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on the latest fuel situation, according to the premier's press aide Atikur Rahman Ruman.

After the meeting, the minister s...