Paid Bills Regularly, Yet Gas Supply Remains Inadequate

As winter sets in, residents across Dhaka and its surrounding areas are facing acute shortages in piped natural gas supply. Despite paying their monthly bills regularly, many households are receiving minimal or inconsistent gas. Compounding the crisis, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders are scarce and available only at sharply increased prices, forcing many families to rely on traditional clay stoves or electric and induction cookers for daily cooking.

Parveen Akter, a homemaker living on Kaderia Madrasa Road in Mohammadpur, described the situation: “Although we have a government pipeline connection, the gas pressure drops drastically in winter. Often, we have no gas for the entire day. Only after midnight does a small amount flow, but it is insufficient for proper cooking. We are forced to buy LPG cylinders on top of our pipeline bills.” Similarly, Asad Abedin, a private-sector worker in Mirpur, said, “There is almost no pipeline gas during the winter. We have to cook in the middle of the night when some gas becomes available, which is hardly adequate.”

Mostafa Patowary from Tongi added that LPG cylinders are often unavailable in the market, and the prices—currently around 2,200 Taka compared with the official 1,306 Taka—are unaffordable. Consequently, many households have reverted to clay stoves as an alternative cooking solution.

According to the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB), although there are roughly 55 million LPG cylinders in the country, only about 12.5 million are being refilled due to import restrictions by major companies. The shortage has been exacerbated by international supply disruptions and increasing demand in Europe, intensifying the crisis locally.

Petrobangla data shows that three months ago daily gas supply was 2,700 million cubic feet (mmcft), which has now fallen to 2,500 mmcft. Of this, 832 mmcft comes from imported LNG, while domestic wells provide the remainder. Between October and January, domestic supply declined by 40 mmcft.

Experts warn that illegal connections further reduce availability for legitimate users. Petrobangla Director of Operations and Mines, Md. Rafiqul Islam, said that new wells are being drilled, an additional LNG terminal is under construction, and illegal connections are being regularly addressed. However, without immediate government intervention and long-term planning, the shortage is expected to worsen over the winter.

Current Gas Supply Overview

Specialists emphasise that urgent government action is necessary to ensure adequate LPG distribution and to stabilise pipeline gas pressure, preventing the situation from worsening further during peak winter months.