Bangladesh has raised electricity prices by 16 per cent, the latest increase as the government seeks to ease pressure on state finances caused by the conflict in the Middle East, AFP reports.

Jalal Ahmed, chairman of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission, announced the 16pc hike two days after fuel prices were raised, taking kerosene to 135 taka ($1.09) per litre up from 130, and petrol to 140 taka from 135. Diesel was unchanged.

According to the government’s Bangladesh Power Development Board, around 44pc of installed capacity comes from natural gas, 24pc from coal, and another 24pc from oil and diesel.

The South Asian nation of 170 million people depends heavily on imports for its energy needs. Repeated price hikes have added strain on people struggling with long-running inflation which hit 9.04 per cent in April.