Consumers in Barisal city are struggling to buy LPG cylinders amid a prolonged supply shortage, with many visiting several shops and paying Tk200-500 above government-fixed prices.
The shortage was evident at Battala Bazar on Friday morning when New Circular Road resident Sadek arrived by rickshaw with an empty cylinder. He approached a retailer and pleaded for a cylinder, saying his family could not cook without one.
The retailer told him there were none available and suggested trying other shops. After waiting for about 30 minutes, Sadek left his empty cylinder at the shop and visited four or five other retailers but failed to find one. He returned and again sought the retailer’s help.
Retailer Suman said he had been struggling to source LPG cylinders for the past two months. Distributors occasionally supplied one or two cylinders, but those were sold immediately.
At Sadek’s request, Suman called a distributor’s manager and asked for a cylinder, saying he was willing to pay whatever was required. About 15-20 minutes later, he told Sadek that a cylinder would cost Tk1,800, including delivery—Tk300-400 above the regular price.
Sadek agreed. A cylinder was delivered by rickshaw about 20 minutes later, while the delivery worker took away his empty cylinder.
During the transaction, another customer called Suman seeking a cylinder. Suman said he had none but would check other shops and call if he found one. He then sent an employee to arrange a cylinder for another regular customer.
The employee returned empty-handed. Suman contacted several distributors but failed to secure another cylinder. Frustrated, he eventually told one distributor that he would no longer stock its cylinders.
Retailers said the shortage is widespread across the city. Consumers are visiting multiple shops and pleading with sellers for cylinders, while those who find one often have to pay significantly higher prices.
Households without alternative cooking fuel are bearing the brunt of the crisis. The shortage has also affected food vendors.
Abdul Razzak, a tea seller on Sadar Road, said he could not operate his business without LPG. “I cannot run my shop without gas. If I keep the shop closed even for a day, I cannot manage my household expenses,” he said. He recently bought a cylinder from Barabazar by paying Tk300 extra.
Several vendors in the Amtala area reported similar experiences. Mohammad Azim, a grocery shopkeeper in Banglabazar, said 20-25 customers come to his shop every day looking for LPG cylinders, but he has to turn most of them away.
He said he received only three cylinders in the past seven days. Distributors often tell him they have no supply, he said, although cylinders can sometimes be arranged through them at higher prices.
Several retailers said distributors of Omera, Jamuna, Bashundhara, iGas, Navana, Fresh, Unique, Beximco and Petromax have not been supplying cylinders regularly. They said companies occasionally provide one or two cylinders, but these are sold immediately because of high demand.