Despite government assurances and industry initiatives, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) consumers in Bangladesh continue to face shortages as companies refuse to take back empty cylinders for refilling, causing stockpiles in shops and warehouses across the capital.
Retailers said they are under pressure and often discouraged from speaking out about the issues. “We are not even able to speak about these issues. If we raise our concerns, we are questioned about why we are speaking out. In some cases, we are even threatened with a halt in gas supply,” one retailer said.
Visits to several areas of Dhaka, including Rampura, Khilgaon, and Kathalbagan, on Thursday revealed the same situation. Retailers said empty cylinders are accumulating in their shops and warehouses, but companies are refusing to collect them, instructing sellers to wait until new LPG shipments arrive by vessel.
Jalal Bhuiyan, a trader from Rampura, said empty cylinders must be returned to the same company from which they were purchased. Cylinders from other companies are not accepted, meaning customers who want to switch brands face additional charges. He added that while many companies’ cylinders are currently in circulation, several companies are not refilling at the moment, driving prices higher for consumers.
Torab Molla, an LPG trader from Khilgaon, said the company he previously worked with has stopped refilling altogether. “Distributors refuse to take back empty cylinders, forcing us to buy filled ones from other companies,” he said. He added that under normal circumstances, an empty cylinder costs around Tk 800, but retailers are currently paying between Tk 1,400 and Tk 1,600.
Despite the difficulties, traders said distributors assured them that the crisis would ease soon as several companies have increased LPG imports. Ahead of Ramadan, LPG operators informed Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan of their plan to import two months’ worth of LPG to address the shortage.
On Wednesday, operators held a meeting with the Energy Adviser, pledging to import a total of 351,700 metric tons of LPG over January and February combined. The adviser said the government would ensure the import commitments are fulfilled and pledged full cooperation.
To further boost imports, the Energy Division has given policy approval for the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) to import LPG. Verbal instructions have been given to the BPC chairman, and an official letter is being sent to initiate the process.
Despite these steps, consumers continue to face high prices and irregular supply. Several consumers said on Thursday they had to pay between Tk 2,300 and Tk 2,600 for a 12kg cylinder. Mithi Chowdhury, a resident of Banasree, said her gas ran out in the morning, and LPG was unavailable in her area. “I had to cook lunch, so I went to Rampura market and bought a cylinder for Tk 2,300,” she said. Salam Sarker from Jatrabari said he purchased a cylinder the same day for Tk 2,600.
Bangladesh’s annual LPG demand is estimated at 1.2–1.6 million metric tons. The state-owned LP Gas Limited operates two main plants in Chattogram and Kailashtila, Sylhet, with a combined annual production capacity of around 33,000 metric tons. The majority of the remaining demand is met through imports by private companies, making the LPG market almost entirely dominated by the private sector.
