LPG shortage disrupts life in Madhukhali

A shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has caused fresh hardship for vehicle owners, drivers and households in Madhukhali of Faridpur, with several filling stations reporting suspended or inadequate supplies for the past several days.

The shortage has affected both autogas-powered vehicles and households that use LPG for cooking. Several filling stations in the upazila have displayed notices saying gas supplies have been temporarily suspended due to technical problems or have been stopped altogether.

Dealers have also been struggling after Bashundhara Company suspended its gas supplies.
Md Mizanur Rahman, proprietor of local Mizan Traders and a dealer for Bashundhara Group, said he usually receives a supply of 3,000 gas cylinders per month.

“However, last month I received only 350 cylinders. Subsequently, I received a consignment of 70 cylinders on September 21, but supplies have currently been halted,” he said.

Local LPG-powered vehicle drivers said they are forced to return empty-handed after visiting filling stations every day due to the lack of gas. Some have switched to alternative fuels, leading to increased transportation costs.

“I support my family by driving this vehicle. If I don’t get gas, I have to keep the vehicle idle; how will I run my household then?” said a driver.

Several rent-a-car business owners in Madhukhali said multiple vehicles have remained idle for days due to the unavailability of LPG. Although their income has stopped because the vehicles are not running, they still have to bear costs such as drivers’ wages, loan instalments and other expenses.

Meanwhile, local residents noted that continuous load-shedding had previously disrupted students’ studies as well as the operations of offices, courts and factories. Although load-shedding has decreased slightly, the LPG shortage has created a new wave of hardship.

A shortage of LPG for cooking has also hit Madhukhali. While supplies from the Bashundhara Company have stopped, cooking gas from other companies, including Jamuna, Omera and Delta, is available. However, no gas cylinder can be found for less than Tk 2,000.

Filling station owners said importing companies are not supplying adequate quantities of LPG. They suspect that supplies may have been reduced in anticipation of a price hike. They hope the situation will normalise and adequate gas supplies will resume after October 3.

Consumers are demanding an investigation into the actual cause of the crisis, a swift restoration of normal supplies and, if necessary, the deployment of mobile courts to inspect filling stations.