Residents in several parts of Mohammadpur in Dhaka have been without piped gas for nearly three months, forcing households to find costly alternatives for one of their most basic daily needs: cooking. Mohammadia Housing, Nobodoy Housing, Adabor and Dhaka Udyan are among the areas where gas supplies have reportedly remained disrupted for an extended period.
The prolonged disruption has placed considerable pressure on families, particularly those on lower and modest incomes. Some households have turned to LPG cylinders, while others are using electric stoves. For poorer families, however, the additional cost of buying alternative cooking fuel is difficult to manage. Many have consequently been forced to cook on wood-burning stoves.
Residents say the problem has become more than a routine supply shortage. They have questioned the management of the gas distribution network and accused Titas Gas of failing to take effective measures to restore normal service.
The financial burden has also become a major source of frustration. Although piped gas has not been available in many homes, residents say they are still required to pay their regular gas bills. At the same time, they are spending additional money on LPG, electricity or firewood to prepare food. For households already struggling with rising everyday expenses, the combination has made the situation particularly difficult.
The shortage is also affecting landlords. Some property owners in the affected neighbourhoods say they are finding it harder to attract tenants because of the lack of a reliable cooking gas supply. Prospective tenants may be reluctant to move into homes where they would have to depend entirely on LPG cylinders or electric cooking appliances.
Local residents have raised questions about the condition of the gas pipelines as well. They allege that leaks and water accumulating in the lines may have contributed to the severity of the disruption. According to them, regular inspection, maintenance and cleaning of the network should be part of the responsible authority’s duties, particularly when a problem persists for such a long period.
Shafiqul Islam, general secretary of the Nobodoy Housing Society in Mohammadpur, said there was water inside the gas lines. He questioned why the relevant authority had not taken steps to clear the lines if water was indeed causing an obstruction. He also alleged that insufficient attention had been given to resolving the problem and that effective measures had not been taken.
Titas Gas authorities, however, have attributed the disruption to a shortage of gas supply. Nazibul Islam, deputy general manager at the company’s Sobhanbagh office, said the pressure had fallen because the available supply was insufficient. According to him, the problem is primarily linked to a shortfall in supply rather than a lack of demand from consumers.
The differing explanations have done little to ease residents’ concerns. For people who have been dealing with the disruption for around three months, the immediate priority is to have a dependable supply restored. They are seeking a clear assessment of the problem and practical action rather than temporary relief.
The disruption is also part of a wider concern over gas availability in different parts of the capital. When domestic gas supplies are disrupted, the consequences can extend beyond kitchens. Commercial establishments, industrial units and transport-related activities can also face difficulties when energy supplies become unreliable.
For Mohammadpur households, however, the impact is most visible at home. Preparing a simple meal now requires an alternative source of fuel, often at an additional cost. Families that cannot afford LPG cylinders or higher electricity consumption are left with fewer options.
Residents are therefore calling for the authorities to establish the exact cause of the prolonged disruption and take steps accordingly. If pipeline leaks, accumulated water or maintenance problems are responsible, they want those issues addressed. If inadequate supply and low pressure are the main causes, they expect measures to improve availability.
They are also seeking clarification over gas bills during the period in which they have been unable to use the service normally. After months of disruption, residents say the priority should be restoring regular piped gas and preventing the same problem from continuing.
For people living in the affected parts of Mohammadpur, the gas crisis has become an everyday hardship rather than a short-term inconvenience. They now want a lasting solution that will allow households to return to normal cooking arrangements without having to shoulder the continuing cost of alternative fuels.
