Dhaka: Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed today announced that the commission is actively working to simplify the import and supply processes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in response to the ongoing crisis. Ahmed shared this information during a seminar focused on “regulatory challenges in the LPG market” held at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the BERC Chairman highlighted the impact of the Middle Eastern crisis, particularly involving Iran, which has led countries like China to purchase large volumes of LPG from the international market. This situation has reduced opportunities for smaller buyers like Bangladesh. Ahmed emphasized that BERC is addressing consumer challenges related to LPG importation and distribution, which is managed by the private sector.
The seminar was organized by Energy and Power magazine in collaboration with the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB), with Molla Amjad Hossain, the magazine’s editor, moderating the discussion. Ahmed noted the geopolitical tensions that have recently affected the energy supply system, with numerous ships and companies being blacklisted.
Ahmed provided import statistics, revealing that Bangladesh imported 1.29 million tonnes of LPG in 2022, 1.28 million tonnes in 2023, 1.61 million tonnes in 2024, and 1.465 million tonnes in 2025. He noted a decline in the import volume during the last year.
Energy expert and Vice Chancellor of International University Bangladesh, Professor M Tamim, presented a keynote paper, stressing the financial burden on companies due to high license renewal costs, which are directly affecting consumers. He also emphasized the importance of LPG in Bangladesh’s energy transition, with the private-sector-driven industry attracting around $3.5 billion in investments.
Tamim noted that LPG supports various sectors, including households, transport, and industries, and is entirely dependent on imports. Therefore, logistics efficiency and regulatory stability are vital. The BERC has authorized 52 companies to operate in the LPG sector, with 33 of them having their own plants and 17 involved in the import process.
Ahmed mentioned that some companies only import LPG once, while others, such as Petromax, Omera, Meghna, Jamuna, and United Igas, import monthly. CAB President AHM Shafiquzzaman argued for the removal of import duties on LPG, a daily essential commodity.
LOAB President Mohammad Amirul Haque highlighted challenges with LPG unloading at outer anchorages and urged the government to allocate land at Maheshkhali to streamline the process. Haque also called for a single regulatory body to oversee the licensing process, which currently involves multiple agencies.
Molla Amjad suggested that reducing regulatory costs could lower the price of a 12 kg LPG cylinder by up to Taka 100. Energy Division Joint Secretary AKM Fazlul Haque stated that approximately six million families in Bangladesh use LPG.
Former MP and BNP leader Zahir Uddin Swapan expressed optimism about future policy shifts, noting that if BNP is elected, they would leverage digital facilities to address current system concerns.