LPG distributors have announced a two-day nationwide shutdown of cylinder sales on October 15 and 16, protesting “harassment by magistrates” and demanding a commission reset.
The announcement was made on Monday by Selim Khan, president of the LPG traders cooperative society at a press conference at the National Press Club.
Khan warned that if their core demands are not addressed within the stipulated two-day period, the association will enforce an indefinite nationwide suspension of LPG sales.
According to industry leaders, out of numerous licensed operators, only six to seven companies remain actively operational, leaving hundreds of thousands of gas cylinders lying unused across the country.
The association urged the government and active LPG operators to refill these idle cylinders and distribute them through authorised dealers to ensure consumers can purchase cooking gas at fair prices.
The distributors' platform also demanded that the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) ensure that once monthly prices are fixed, individual companies cannot arbitrarily alter them.
Any subsequent price adjustments, they argued, must strictly go through the regulatory body.
Furthermore, the association strongly criticised the National Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) and executive magistrates, accusing them of subjecting dealers and retailers to unreasonable fines and harassment amid ongoing market volatility.
They pointed out that many companies have suspended operations or are struggling to open Letters of Credit (LCs) for raw material imports due to foreign exchange and financial pressures.
Selim Khan said the BERC Chairman contacted him and assured that the commission is actively reviewing the traders' demands and will take necessary steps soon.