BERC sets price hike for LPG cylinder
Sr. Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj :
Although Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) had set the price of a 12-kg Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder at Tk.1270, many consumers in Kishoreganj were being forced to pay between Tk. 1350 and 1400.
The LPG market in Bangladesh has always been chaotic due to price manipulation by traders at different levels.
The price discrepancy has sparked frustration among households, and small businesses, who say they are being burdened with unjustified additional costs amid already mounting living expenses.
Saidur Rahaman lives in Kishoreganj ‘s Puran thana area, he bought a 12 kg gas cylinder from Mishuk Store located in front of Sadar model Police Station. For this, he had to pay 1,350 taka.
However, the BERC -set price of this gas cylinder Tk 1,270. The shopkeeper charged him 80 taka extra.
No objections were made. He was forced to buy the cylinder at the higher price.
The traders saids, transportation cost for each cylinder is 80 taka. For this, they are taking that money from the buyer. Although some buyers have to pay up to 130 taka extra.
Sameer Kumar Aditya, who works for a private development organization, bought a 12 kg gas cylinder from Titul Enterprise in Nikli Puranbazar two weeks ago.
He said that the shopkeeper also charged him 1,350 taka. No shop can get a cylinder for less than this. He is forced to buy it at an additional price.
For some time now, the Titas gas situation in Kishoreganj town has been precarious. Although some gas is supplied around 6 am and after evening, the stove only lights up intermittently.
Half an hour of cooking does not want to be finished in two hours. Saima Haque, a college teacher in the Gaurangbazar area, said that the gas does not come properly to the Titas line.
Sometimes the stove goes out completely. If you cook rice at 11 am, it will be 2 am.
Rafiqul Islam , a private employe said that this is why many people are buying cylinders to cook even after having a gas connection.
He has to go to the office in the morning and send his children to school. Most days, he has to buy breakfast from the hotel.
They are angry that they are being charged extra for the cylinder. On Thursday afternoon, when we went to Mishuk Store located in front of Kishoreganj Sadar Police Station, we learned that the shopkeeper was selling 12 kg gas cylinders for 1,350 taka.
When asked about the price being higher than the government-set price of 1,270 taka, he refused to give his name. The seller claimed that it costs 80 taka to bring the cylinder.
That is why selling at the government price does not suit them.
Similar comments were made by people working at Sikder Traders in Akhrabazar in the town. None of the companies agreed to give their names.
They also claimed that transportation costs have to be added. That is why they are charging higher prices.
Assistant Director (AD) of DNCRP, Kishoreganj, Shafiqul Islam said that gas cylinders should be sold at the price fixed by the Energy Regulatory Commission. There is no scope for selling at a higher price.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC,General) Mizabe Rahmat told the New Nation that, Administration will inquire about the sale of gas cylinders at a higher price.”
CAB, district president Alam Sarowar Tito said that, strict market monitoring needed from authorities.