A severe shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has emerged in Bandarban, with consumers alleging that some traders are selling 12-kilogram cylinders at almost twice the government-set price.
Consumers said the official price of a 12kg LPG cylinder is Tk 1,850. But in Bandarban town, the same cylinder is reportedly being sold for between Tk 3,300 and Tk 3,500, placing a significant additional burden on households that depend on LPG for cooking.
The shortage has also created another difficulty. Several traders are reportedly refusing to exchange empty cylinders for filled ones. Customers are instead being told to purchase a new cylinder along with the gas, further increasing the amount they have to pay.
Several LPG outlets in Bandarban town were visited on Monday to assess the situation. A number of shops were found locked from the outside, although lights were visible inside and LPG cylinders could reportedly be seen in stock. Conversations with several traders over the telephone also indicated allegations that gas was still being sold to customers despite some outlets remaining officially closed.
For households without an alternative cooking arrangement, the shortage has become an immediate problem.
Imma Marma, a resident of Madhyampra in Bandarban Sadar, said the gas in her household ran out while she was cooking on Sunday afternoon. Her husband subsequently contacted several shops in town in search of a replacement cylinder.
None of the traders he contacted, however, agreed to provide a filled cylinder in exchange for their empty one.
“They said we would have to buy a new cylinder if we wanted gas. They asked for Tk 3,500. We have not been able to cook at home since yesterday,” Imma said.
The impact has been particularly difficult for her family because she has a three-and-a-half-year-old son and a seven-and-a-half-month-old daughter. She said she gave her children bread before putting them to bed at night. Her other daughter, who is in Class Eight, went to school without eating anything at night or in the morning.
The situation was also reflected in conversations with several LPG dealers and retailers in Bandarban. Contacted as a customer, some traders said they were not exchanging empty cylinders for filled ones. Instead, customers had to purchase a new cylinder to obtain LPG.
Some traders quoted a price of Tk 3,500, while others said they could supply a cylinder for Tk 3,300. Both prices are substantially higher than the stated price of Tk 1,850 for a 12kg cylinder.
Rakib, owner of M and A Enterprise in Uzanipara, said customers currently had to purchase a new cylinder to obtain LPG. He put the price of a new cylinder at Tk 1,500 and said supplies from Bashundhara and several other companies were unavailable.
Osman, who supplies LPG under Evergreen Enterprise, said they currently had only Independent’s ‘I Gas’ available. LPG from other companies was not being supplied, he said.
According to Osman, the limited supply meant they could not refill customers’ empty cylinders. Those seeking the available ‘I Gas’ had to purchase a new cylinder, bringing the total price to around Tk 3,500.
The shortage has therefore affected consumers in two ways: the availability of LPG has become uncertain, while the cost of obtaining a filled cylinder has risen sharply. For families that rely entirely on LPG for daily cooking, even a temporary disruption can quickly affect meals and household routines.
The allegations of stock being held while consumers struggle to obtain gas have also raised questions about distribution and retail practices in the local market. Ensuring regular supplies and preventing sales at excessive prices would be crucial to easing the pressure on consumers in Bandarban.
