LPG price soars beyond official rates in Bogura, consumers suffer

A small tea shop owner named Khokon Hasan from Bogura's Jahangirabad Fultola area found himself in crisis on Wednesday night, April 1, when he tried to buy an LPG cylinder. After visiting several shops, he could not find one. He was quoted Tk 1,900 for a 12kg cylinder, a price far beyond his means.

"The price is too high. I cannot afford it. I will have to cook on earthen stove," Khokon told Views Bangladesh.

The following day, Thursday, April 2, the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) officially announced a price hike for LPG. The price of a 12kg cylinder was raised from Tk 1,341 to Tk 1,728.

However, consumers allege that gas was being sold at inflated prices even before the official announcement. On Friday, April 3, another resident Shahjamal Hossain searched for a cylinder and found one at Tk 1,900. He refused to buy it.

Consumers say they have been forced to buy cylinders above the fixed price for three months. Government-set prices are not being enforced at the field level.

Retailers themselves claim they are being forced to buy cylinders at higher prices from wholesalers. Speaking on condition of anonymity, they said on April 1, they bought a Bashundhara brand cylinder at Tk 1,820, Jamuna at Tk 1,850, and Omera at Tk 1,890. No receipt was provided during purchase. When asked for a receipt, they were told to take it without receipt or leave it.

When wholesale prices are high, it is impossible to sell to consumers at the government-fixed rate, they added.

Mehedi Hasan, Assistant Director of the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate in Bogura, told Views Bangladesh that the issue has come to their attention. A decision will be taken on Saturday, April 4, followed by market drives.