Government silent backing of excessive LPG price rise: CPB

The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) has alleged that the government's silent consent is behind the abnormal rise in LPG prices.

The allegation was made by party leaders at a rally on Thursday (8 January). Earlier, they held a protest rally in front of the Titas Gas office at Karwan Bazar, demanding a solution to the gas crisis and an end to the ‘anarchy’ in gas cylinder prices.

CPB leaders said that artificial shortages are being created in the market to raise LPG cylinder prices, yet the government is not taking action against those responsible—what does this mean? Is there tacit government consent? Otherwise, where do they get such audacity?

CPB President Sajjad Zahir Chandan said that if LPG prices are not reduced within the next three days and the practice of creating shortages and increasing prices far above the fixed rate is not stopped, a tough movement will be launched with the people of the country.

He said that household stoves are not burning due to the lack of piped gas across Dhaka city. "We observed this crisis for a long time. He said they see that the government is not taking any measures to resolve this crisis. The interim government is turning Bangladesh into Singapore, Paris and London, but it is not considering the suffering of the ordinary people of the country."

Former CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said: "Our country has underground gas reserves, but it is not being extracted properly. Even the amount that is extracted is not being used properly. There is a new drama behind this. If the country’s gas were properly extracted, prices could come down. If supply is not ensured properly, then gas can be imported."