Thousands of families across Dhaka have effectively been driven out of their own kitchens as a week-long gas crisis continues to cripple residential supply, forcing many households to rely on restaurants for daily meals while their monthly gas bills continue to arrive.
With piped gas either unavailable or reduced to a weak flame for most of the day, many residents say cooking has become impossible.
While some households have switched to electric stoves, LPG cylinders or even traditional clay stoves, thousands of others -- particularly apartment dwellers -- have been left with no practical alternative but to buy cooked food every day, significantly increasing their living costs.
The crisis has been especially difficult for families with infants and young children, who say preparing fresh meals has become a daily struggle.
The impact is visible across the capital.
Restaurants in Dhanmondi, Shukrabad, Mirpur and Mohammadpur have witnessed an unusual surge in customers from breakfast until late afternoon, with owners saying many neighbourhood families have become regular customers since the gas shortage intensified.
Shabuddin Ahmed, who works at a hotel in Mirpur-10, said business had changed noticeably over the past week.
“Earlier we did not have this many customers. Now the crowds have grown significantly because many people have no gas at home,” he said.
Nibir Ahmed, a private university student living in Dhanmondi, said eating outside had become routine.
“I cannot even remember the last time I cooked at home,” he said, adding that despite living in the area for several years, he had never experienced such a prolonged gas shortage.
For others, the situation has become more severe.
Abida Islam, a resident of Shewrapara, said her family spent several nights surviving on biscuits, bread and bananas because they were unable to cook.
She alleged that despite days of disruption, consumers had received little relief or clear information from the authorities.
The crisis has also transformed the economics of the restaurant business.
Managers at several eateries, including Barishal Hotel, Hanif Biriyani and Lalbag Biriyani in Shukrabad, said customer numbers had risen sharply over the past week.
Some estimated rice consumption had increased by an additional 20 to 25 kilograms daily, while others reported biriyani sales climbing by as much as 40%.
Yet restaurant owners say the boom has come at a price.
Many have been forced to abandon piped gas and switch to expensive LPG cylinders to keep their kitchens running.
Mohammad Nayeem Islam, manager of a restaurant in the area, said the business had spent around Tk600,000 for a gas connection only six months ago but still could not rely on regular supply.
“We now purchase 30 to 40 LPG cylinders every month at around Tk6,600 each. Sales have increased, but so have our costs, leaving us with much smaller profits,” he said.
Some customers alleged that restaurants had stopped selling plain rice separately to maximise earnings, an allegation owners denied, arguing that soaring LPG costs had made simple rice sales financially unviable.
For consumers, however, the financial burden continues to mount.
Abdur Rahim, a Dhanmondi resident, said his family’s monthly food expenses had nearly doubled.
“There is no gas at home, and LPG cylinders are also difficult to find. We have no choice but to buy meals from restaurants every day,” he said.
As repair work continues at the damaged LNG terminal and gas shortages persist across the capital, what began as an energy supply disruption is increasingly becoming a cost-of-living crisis, with thousands of Dhaka families paying twice -- once for gas they cannot use, and again for meals they cannot cook.
