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DHAKA, Feb 2 (AFP) - Bangladesh is set to liberalise the fuel import and marketing industry as part of efforts to boost the country's fragile economy, government sources said Saturday.

Currently three state-run companies under the control of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) deal with the importation and marketing of fuel, but under a new plan private companies would also be allowed to do so.

Sources from the energy ministry said Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's cabinet had agreed to the plan in principle and it would be made effective after the formation of an energy regulatory body. A fuel pricing guideline will also be formulated.

State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Mosharraf Hossain said the government might also privatise the BPC.

"The government is considering offloading shares of the BPC-run companies," Hossain told the private UNB news agency.

"If the step is taken then the government can avoid huge annual losses," he said.

Donor agencies and countries have long been asking the government to privatise several state-run enterprises in order to cut government expenditure. 

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