Titas faults deepen Dhaka gas shock
Staff Reporter :
Extremely low pressure in the distribution network of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC has severely disrupted gas supply across large parts of Dhaka, paralysing daily routines and forcing thousands of residents to struggle with basic household needs.
Officials said most neighbourhoods in the capital depend on Titas for piped gas. For nearly a week, faults in the distribution system have caused sharply reduced pressure or complete outages, making routine activities such as cooking difficult and pushing households towards more expensive alternatives.
Residents say that what Titas describes as “low pressure” is, in reality, almost a total loss of supply. Many families have been compelled to buy costly LPG cylinders or switch to electric stoves, while others have resorted to cooking with firewood on rooftops or in open spaces — practices that raise both safety and health concerns.
Riyad Hossain, a resident of Uttara, said gas in his neighbourhood remained suspended for most of Thursday. Although supply returned the following morning, pressure was too weak for normal cooking. Jahidur Rahman of Abdullahpur echoed similar frustrations, saying his area had endured shortages for several days.
“There is almost no gas during the day. With what little comes, it can take an hour just to boil water. We are being forced to buy LPG cylinders, and some people are using firewood,” he said.
In a statement, Titas said repeated service-line faults and damage to a major pipeline under the Turag River in Aminbazar — caused by the anchor of a cargo trawler — had led to prolonged disruption. Although the line was initially repaired, water later seeped in, requiring further work.
As a result, Titas said low pressure has persisted in areas including Uttara, Dakshinkhan, Uttarkhan, Abdullahpur, Tongi and Gazipur. However, residents of Bashabo and Khilgaon reported having no supply at all for the past three days.
Farida Akhter of Madertek in Bashabo said she now wakes before dawn to cook while some pressure is available. “There is no gas during the day. Even when a little arrives in the afternoon, it is not enough to prepare meals,” she said.
Similar complaints have emerged from Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Shyamoli and Adabar, where residents reported outages of up to 20 hours. Tahsin Jeba of Mohammadpur said gas had been completely unavailable since the previous night, while prices of LPG cylinders continued to rise.
Titas later said a burst valve on Mirpur Road near Ganabhaban caused additional disruptions in several areas. A new valve has been installed, though the company cautioned that normal supply may take several more hours to stabilise.
Meanwhile, the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) criticised Titas for issuing full monthly bills despite widespread and prolonged service interruptions. CAB Energy Adviser Shamsul Alam described the practice as “reckless” and called for consumer compensation, stronger accountability and long-delayed reforms, including the rollout of prepaid gas meters.