Reza Mahmud :
Residents of several areas in Dhaka are facing persistent challenges with irregular gas supplies, exacerbated by pipeline damages and the inconsistent availability of LPG cylinders at regulated prices.
The situation has prompted widespread dissatisfaction among residents who are grappling with daily hurdles in accessing essential cooking gas.
Sources report that gas supply disruptions have been occurring due to pipeline damages caused by various development projects undertaken by different authorities. In addition to these infrastructure-related issues, irregularities in gas supply without clear explanations have compounded the problem for residents.
Residents from areas such as Gandaria, Bongshal, Lalbagh, and Mirpur have voiced their frustrations, describing the irregular supply of gas as a daily ordeal.
While some days witness near-sufficient supply, most days suffer from a poor or complete lack of gas supply, severely impacting daily life routines, particularly cooking meals.
Adding to the grievances, residents also face difficulties in purchasing LPG cylinders at government-declared fixed prices set by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on a monthly basis.
Many residents lament that the actual prices in the market do not align with the announced rates, leading to additional financial strain.
Selina Begum from the Lalbagh area expressed her frustration, stating, “I cannot cook my daily meals on time anymore due to the irregular gas supply. Sometimes, we only get gas late at night.”
Her husband, Abdul Latif, questioned the necessity of purchasing LPG cylinders after regularly paying government gas bills. Residents are urging the government to intervene swiftly and address these pressing issues, emphasising the need to resolve pipeline damages promptly and ensure consistent gas supply across the city.
They seek assurances that LPG cylinders will be available at regulated prices as announced by the BERC, alleviating the burden of additional expenses on households.
Engineer Md. Haronur Rashid Mullah, Managing Director of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC, explained, “The intrusion of water into damaged gas pipelines lowers gas pressure, leading to disruptions in gas supplies.” He cited instances where pipelines were damaged due to illegal settings and development activities undertaken by various agencies.
He further articulated that a LPG terminal in Moheskhali has been damaged due to Cyclone Remal. “After repairing the terminal, the gas supply will be normal,” he hoped.
Residents, like Ahmed Joarder from the Gandaria Fire Service area, lamented the recurring issue of water intrusion into gas pipelines.
“We often hire workers to pump out water, providing temporary relief for a day or two, but the problem returns,” Joarder shared, highlighting the persistent nature of the problem affecting several areas in the city.
Residents have accused authorities of negligence in addressing these issues promptly. Bikash Chandra Saha, Deputy General Manager of Motijheel Zone, acknowledged receiving numerous complaints and applications seeking resolution.
We have forwarded these issues to the relevant officials,” Saha affirmed, acknowledging the prolonged nature of these challenges in the area.
In addition to gas supply disruptions, residents also expressed hardships in purchasing LPG cylinders due to prices significantly higher than those mandated by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC). This disparity has added financial strain to households already grappling with irregular gas supplies.
Residents and community leaders urge swift action from authorities to rectify pipeline damages, ensure consistent gas supply, and enforce regulated pricing of LPG cylinders. They emphasise the importance of timely interventions to alleviate the daily hardships faced by residents across affected areas.
Despite the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announcing a fixed price of Tk1,363 for a 12-kilogramme consumer-grade LPG cylinder on June 3, consumers in Dhaka are facing inflated prices, with retailers charging up to Tk1,500 and more per cylinder.
In May, the price for the same LPG cylinder was set at Tk1,393. However, consumers are routinely paying higher prices due to non-compliance by importers, distributors, and retailers with the BERC’s price regulations. This discrepancy has left consumers frustrated, as they continue to advocate for stricter enforcement to ensure they can purchase LPG at the government-mandated rates.
LPG distributors and retailers from different areas, including Maniknogor, RK Mission Road, and Gandaria, said they were buying LPG cylinders at a higher rate than the price fixed by the energy regulatory body.
The retailers blame the distributors, while the distributors allege the importers are guilty in this regard. But importers lay the blame on shortages of imports, volatile foreign exchange rates, and hardships in opening letters of credit.