Dhaka:Consumers in Dhaka are facing increased financial pressure as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders are being sold at prices significantly higher than those set by the government, following consecutive monthly price hikes.
According to United News of Bangladesh, despite the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) setting regulatory prices, consumers report paying more due to inadequate market enforcement and a growing discrepancy between official rates and actual market conditions.
Reports from various areas in Dhaka, including Mogbazar, Rampura, Khilgaon, Poribag, and Dhanmondi, indicate that a 12 kg LPG cylinder is being sold above the government-fixed rate. This situation is particularly challenging for tea stalls and small food and coffee shop vendors, who are purchasing LPG cylinders for approximately Tk 2,500.
The LPG supply chain's instability, along with disputes over storage, bottling charges, and distributor commissions, has enabled certain traders to take advantage of consumers. Many retail shops and local dealers disregard official tariffs, citing transportation costs and an artificial scarcity allegedly created by syndicates.
The ongoing overpricing issue follows recent price adjustments by BERC, which raised the price of a 12 kg LPG cylinder by Tk 223, setting the new retail rate at Tk 2,060, up from Tk 1,837. This increase came after a Tk 252 hike in October, raising the cost of a standard cooking gas cylinder by Tk 475 in two months, significantly impacting lower- and middle-income households.
Consumer rights groups, including the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), have voiced significant concern over the failure to enforce BERC-fixed prices at the retail level. CAB and other stakeholders have called for increased monitoring and immediate punitive measures, such as the revocation of licenses for operators and dealers found guilty of overpricing, to alleviate the burden on millions of domestic LPG users.