Consumers across the nation face renewed financial strain as the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) experiences another sharp upward revision. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced on Monday evening that the price of a standard 12-kilogram LPG cylinder, widely used for domestic cooking in private households, has been increased by 223 Taka. This adjustment brings the officially declared retail price to 2,060 Taka, up from the previous rate of 1,837 Taka. The new tariff officially took effect from 8:00 PM on Monday following an order issued by the energy regulator.
According to officials at the regulatory body, the price hike stems primarily from fluctuating conditions in the international market, specifically the rising contract prices of propane and butane, the primary raw components of LPG. The Saudi Aramco Contract Price for November rose to an average of 759 US dollars per tonne, exerting immediate upward pressure on local distribution costs. Alongside domestic cooking gas, the price of auto gas—used predominantly in motor vehicles—has also been adjusted upwards to 91.95 Taka per litre, up from 84.62 Taka per litre recorded in October.
Despite these formal administrative price measures, consumer dissatisfaction remains high due to a severe disconnect between official announcements and actual market reality. Retail markets across urban and rural sectors have consistently failed to sell cylinders at BERC-mandated rates. In October, when the regulator announced a 252 Taka increase to set the 12 kg cylinder price at 1,837 Taka, retail vendors across the capital city of Dhaka routinely sold the same cylinders for 2,200 to 2,300 Taka. Buyers reported widespread price gouging and artificial supply shortages orchestrated by intermediaries.
A broader examination of pricing trends over the last quarter highlights the rapid nature of these cost increases. Over the span of just two consecutive months, the official price of a 12-kilogram cylinder has surged by a cumulative total of 475 Taka. In September, the regulated price stood at 1,585 Taka, before climbing to 1,837 Taka in October, and finally crossing the 2,000 Taka mark under the latest revision.
Market analysts and consumer rights advocates point out that whilst BERC adjusts rates periodically to reflect global price volatility, enforcement mechanism gaps leave everyday consumers vulnerable. Without strict field-level monitoring and penalty enforcement for uncooperative distributors, official benchmark figures offer little relief to householders already coping with broader inflationary pressures.
