Gas price hike amid acute crisis
Staff Reporter :
An acute gas crisis has pushed daily life in the capital and other parts of the country into disarray, hitting lower- and middle-income families the hardest when the prices of other daily essentials are in the rise.
With severe cold continuing and gas absent from pipelines for long hours, many households are unable to cook at home.
From early morning, people are lining up outside small restaurants and hotels to collect breakfast and lunch, turning eateries into lifelines rather than conveniences.
Across Dhaka and several other cities including port city Chattogram, the shortage has worsened due to winter-driven demand, maintenance at LNG terminals, and supply constraints.
Due to shortage of pipeline gas, many families have been forced to depend on LPG cylinders, which are often being sold at prices far higher than the government-set rate.
The pressure intensified further after the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission announced a fresh hike in LPG prices for January.
The price of a 12 kg cylinder was increased by Tk 53 to Tk 1,306, while auto-gas prices were also raised.
Even this official price, however, remains largely theoretical for many consumers, as cylinders are frequently sold in the retail market for Tk 1,700 to Tk 1,800 due to shortages and weak oversight.
Speaking at a press conference, BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed on Sunday acknowledged the gap between regulation and reality.
He said the commission could not guarantee that consumers would be able to buy LPG at the government-set price, citing distribution and supply issues.
He added that complaints of overcharging at the distributor level were being discussed with LPG operators and that action would be taken if violations were proven.
For ordinary families, the crisis has become a daily struggle, particularly for women managing households without fuel.
Kitchens remain idle for hours, sometimes days, forcing families to skip meals or rely on outside food they can barely afford.
“I wake up before dawn hoping the gas will come for a short while, but most days there is nothing,” said Salma Begum, a homemaker in Mirpur. “If I buy food from outside every day, my salary will not last the month. If I buy a cylinder at the market price, I cannot pay rent.”
Another resident, Roksana Akhter from Jatrabari, said the crisis has stripped families of basic dignity. “We are standing in food lines in this cold like it’s an emergency situation,” she said.
The impact is not limited to households. Industrial areas such as Narayanganj are also suffering, with factories reporting disrupted production due to inadequate gas supply.
Business owners warn that prolonged shortages could lead to job cuts and higher prices of essential goods, adding to inflationary pressure.
In an attempt to cope, many city residents are now buying electric ovens and induction cookers as alternatives to gas. Electronics shops report a noticeable rise in sales over the past few weeks.
But this shift has created new problems of its own as electricity bills are rising sharply, and the upfront cost of appliances is adding to household expenses at a time when incomes are already under strain.
“I bought an induction cooker because I had no other choice,” said Nasima Khatun, a working woman in Farmgate. “Now my electricity bill has gone up, market prices are high, and gas is still unavailable. Everything costs more, but our wages are the same.”
Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said the government is holding meetings with LPG operators to address the pricing and supply situation and has instructed officials to ensure cylinders are sold at the fixed rate.
Earlier meetings with senior officials also emphasized the need for immediate steps to curb illegal pricing and stabilize the market.
Despite these assurances, public frustration continues to grow. For many families, the gas crisis is no longer just an energy issue but a question of survival amid rising prices, cold weather, and stagnant incomes.
As winter deepens, residents are demanding swift and effective intervention, stronger market monitoring, and a clear plan to restore pipeline gas supply.