Retailers flout LPG price cap, charge Tk 150-200 more despite BERC order

City Desk:

Even though the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) had set the price of a 12- kg LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinder at Tk 1,364 for the month of July, many consumers in the capital were being forced to pay between Tk 1,500 and Tk 1,600, well above the official rate.

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, reports UNB.

Talking to UNB, a resident of Uttara said, “I went to three different shops in my area, and no one was selling the cylinder for less than Tk 1,500. If the government fixes a price, why is it not being enforced? We, the common people, are suffering.”

“We are the worst sufferers,” said Kokhon, a restaurant owner, adding, “We use a lot of gas cylinders, but the prices are extremely high. Retailers always charge more than the price set by BERC – they don’t care about the official rate. It’s all controlled by a syndicate,” he added.

Akhi Afrin, a housewife from Uttara’s Diabari, expressed similar frustration.
“This is not a luxury item. LPG is a basic necessity for cooking. If prices go up like this, how will we manage our household budget?” she said.