Dhaka:Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku met with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) importers to discuss the ongoing supply crisis and allegations of inflated prices for LPG cylinders.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the meeting, held at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka, was also attended by Commerce Minister Khandoker Abdul Muktadir. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources confirmed the meeting through a press release, though it did not disclose any specific decisions made during the talks.
This high-level meeting was convened following widespread consumer complaints about the scarcity of LPG cylinders in various parts of the country. Consumers have reported paying Tk 600 to Tk 1000 more than the government-fixed price for a 12-kilogram cylinder. Although the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) set the price at Tk 1,585 for September, customers in several areas have been forced to pay between Tk 2200 and Tk 2600.
On September 28, LPG importers had assured officials that import volumes were sufficient to meet the national demand. Despite this, claims of artificial supply shortages and overpricing have continued. Conflicting reports on LPG import figures have emerged, with some suggesting a drop from nearly 160,000 tonnes in August to about 120,000 tonnes in September. Importers blamed the decline on international shipping disruptions and rising freight costs.
In contrast, a group of LPG operators argued in a letter to the Energy Division on October 1 that September's import volumes were similar to August's. They claimed that some importers deliberately delayed releasing LPG cargoes to manipulate the market, calling for an independent investigation.
In response to the deteriorating situation, the Energy Minister instructed District Commissioners on September 30 to examine whether an artificial crisis was being created to raise prices. He urged swift action against those creating shortages or overcharging, while also directing efforts to enhance supply where genuine shortages exist.