LPG cylinder price runs uncontrollably over govt rate

Staff Reporter :
Retailers are not following the official price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders, causing a pinch on people’s pockets.
Visiting various markets in the Dhaka city, it is found that 12 kg LPG cylinders are selling for Tk 1750 to Tk 1800, which indicates the real price of LPG is much higher than the official price.
Earlier, on Thursday, the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) was increased LPG prices by Tk 22.15 per kg which was the highest in last 2 years.
As per the new price, 12kg LPG cylinder cost has increased by Tk 266 as  
a retail consumer get it at Tk 1498 instead of previous price of Tk1232.
Increasing price of LPG has already created pressure on the buyers. Moreover, now the consumers are not getting gas even at the price set by the government. LPG of Tk 1498 is being sold at retail level at Tk 1800. That is, more than 300 taka is being charged for 12 kg cylinder.
Faruk Ahmed, a LP gas user from Lalbagh, said ‘the government has fixed the price – I only hear such news in the media. It is not reflected in reality. Because of no available cooking alternatives, we are in a hostage situation and compelled to buy at Tk 1800 for a 12kg LPG cylinder.”
Habibur Rahman, a resident of Poribagh, who works in a private company in the capital, said that a few days ago, when the price of the cylinder was Tk 1232, it had to be bought for more than Tk 1500. After the latest price hike now they are currently charging Tk 1800.
Is the BERC’s rate, just a paper work?”, he questioned. LPG retailer in the capital’s Hatirpul area, Md. Hafiz Uddin said that the supplying companies are not providing LPG as per demand. We had to purchase LPG at higher costs. There is a supply crunch in the LPG market which creates this current over price of the bottled LPG, he added.
Masum Arefin, deputy director of the complaints department of the National Consumer Rights Directorate, said that, the authority has received several verbal complaints but no written allegations are there.
‘We are conducting raids in various places and fining the accused. If any consumer complains regarding the over pricing, we will take all the necessary actions,” Masum Arefin added.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh is a market of USD 3.2 billion liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The current annual demand for LPG is 1.2 million tonnes and around 30 companies are active in the local LPG market.