Dhaka: Improved gas pressure has brought visible relief to households and CNG filling stations in the capital, easing the daily hardships caused by the prolonged gas crisis. Abida Sultana, a resident of Kalabagan, expressed that low gas pressure had forced her to cook all three meals on an electric stove and sometimes buy food from outside. However, normal gas pressure allowed her to prepare breakfast for her family of five on a gas stove without hassle.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, similar relief was reported by many city residents following the Prime Minister's assurance during an interaction with businesspeople and media representatives. Gas pressure has increased at households, industries, and CNG stations since last night. The improvement was particularly visible at CNG filling stations. Unlike previous days when vehicles waited for hours, queues have significantly shortened.
At Cab Express (BD) Limited in North Kutubkhali, Jatrabari, only a few CNG-run three-wheelers, legunas, and microbuses were waiting for fuel. Station employees mentioned that pressure had increased considerably. CNG driver Bacchu Sikdar shared that getting Tk 200 worth of gas had taken 15-20 minutes two days ago, while earlier he had to wait two to three hours in queues. Today, including the queue, he received gas within 40 minutes, with the actual refuelling taking only seven minutes.
Md Emdadul Haque, deputy general manager of the station, noted that gas pressure after compression was now close to 200, compared with 130-135 two days ago. Leguna driver Md Rony added he was able to take Tk 2,500 worth of gas today and expected it to last throughout the day.
According to Petrobangla, domestic gas production is continuing while LNG is being supplied as needed to maintain normal supply to the national grid. As a result, gas supply to power plants, industries, households, and CNG stations has increased. Similar improvements were observed at CNG stations in Maniknagar, Bakshibazar, and Gabtoli.
Petrobangla data showed gas supply to the national grid stood at 261 crore cubic feet by this afternoon, most of it from domestic sources. Officials stated that LNG imports were continuing alongside domestic production. Farhan Noor, secretary general of the CNG Filling Station Owners Association, said gas pressure had increased significantly since last night following the Prime Minister's intervention. He hoped pressure would gradually improve in older lines as well.
The improvement has also benefited households. Sourav Dey, a rickshaw puller from Maniknagar, reported that he had breakfast at home before work today for the first time in a long time after having to buy all three meals outside previously. Farhan Noor emphasized that dependence on LNG imports should be reduced in the long term by giving greater priority to domestic gas exploration and production.