12-kg LPG cylinder fixed at Tk 1,356, consumers still paying more
Muhammad Ayub Ali :
Amid ongoing unrest, the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced another increase in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices at the consumer level, further squeezing household budgets and transport costs.
The price of a widely used 12-kg LPG cylinder has been increased by Tk 50 in February compared to January, with the new rate coming into effect from Monday.
According to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), the revised price of a 12-kg cylinder is now Tk 1,356, up from Tk 1,306 last month, marking the second consecutive monthly hike in cooking gas prices and continuing the upward trend.
However, doubts persist over the practical impact of the official rate, as price controls remain poorly enforced at the retail level.
Most of the areas of the capital, LPG cylinders are reportedly being sold at Tk 2,200–2,300—well above the government-mandated price—forcing consumers to pay nearly Tk 1,000 extra per cylinder.
Hanif Ali purchased a 12-kg LPG cylinder for Tk 2,200 in the Kazla area to meet his family’s daily cooking needs.
Asked about the government-fixed price, he expressed deep frustration, saying that the official rate has little relevance in the open market.
According to him, there is virtually no monitoring or enforcement, leaving consumers with no choice but to buy cylinders at inflated prices.
“We know the government price is much lower,” he said, “but in reality, we are forced to pay Tk 2,200 just to cook our daily meals.”
Like Hanif Ali, many other consumers are being compelled to pay significantly higher prices for LPG cylinders due to the lack of effective market monitoring.
The situation has added to the burden on lower- and middle-income families, even as the government assures that higher LPG imports ahead of Ramadan will help stabilise supply and curb abnormal pricing.
The latest adjustment also affects centrally supplied household gas. Under the reticulated LPG system, prices have been increased to Tk 109.29 per kg from Tk 105.08 last month.
Meanwhile, autogas users are facing higher costs as well, with prices rising by Tk 2.34 per litre to Tk 62.14, compared to Tk 59.80 in January.
Price data show continued volatility in both LPG and autogas markets, largely reflecting fluctuations in international prices.
Since November, the cost of a 12-kg LPG cylinder has climbed by Tk 38 to Tk 1,253, while autogas rose by Tk 1.74 per litre to Tk 57.32. Subsequent downward revisions, aligned with global trends, briefly reduced prices to Tk 1,215 per cylinder and Tk 55.58 per litre for autogas.
Despite occasional rollbacks, the overall impact on consumers has been substantial. Consecutive increases of Tk 53 in January and Tk 50 in February have pushed up cooking and transport fuel expenses for two straight months, fuelling concerns over affordability and the effectiveness of market oversight.