According to the latest price chart issued by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), the official retail price for a standard 12-kilogram LPG cylinder is fixed at BDT 1,837. However, an extensive spot check across urban and rural markets in Feni revealed that consumers are routinely charged between BDT 1,900 and BDT 2,000, and occasionally even more. Unscrupulous traders are exploiting alleged supply shortages, leaving low-income households struggling to manage basic kitchen expenses.

The impact is felt acutely by residents with fixed incomes. Abdur Rahman, a low-salaried employee living in Feni town’s Masterpara, shared that he recently had to purchase a 12 kg cylinder for BDT 2,000 to sustain his six-member family. Similar concerns were voiced by Kaniz Fatema from Academy Road, who noted that using traditional firewood stoves is not an option in rented urban apartments, leaving families entirely dependent on bottled gas regardless of price surges. Small business owners are also bearing the brunt; Mohammad Ismail, a tea and snack vendor on Trunk Road, explained that while fuel costs have risen sharply, he cannot increase the price of his snacks without losing his daily customer base.

Retailers, however, deflect blame back onto wholesale supply channels. Tarequl Islam, a trader from Chhagalnaiya, and Abul Kashem, a shopkeeper in Jamaddar Bazar, explained that they are purchasing stock from wholesalers at inflated rates ranging between BDT 1,900 and BDT 1,950 per unit. Retailers argue that they are forced to mark up prices to cover transport and operational costs, adding that several primary gas brands have been practically unavailable for the past two months.

Interviews at the regional dealership level reveal systemic supply chain friction. Shahadat Hossain Tareq, cashier at M/S Russell Enterprise—a primary Bashundhara Gas dealership in Feni—stated that distributors themselves are procuring cylinders directly from parent companies at rates exceeding BDT 1,900. He explained that dealers operate on thin margins of around BDT 50 per cylinder, but retail shopkeepers in rural areas frequently tack on profit margins ranging from BDT 200 to BDT 500 per unit during supply bottlenecks.

Civil rights groups have called for immediate administrative oversight. Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, General Secretary of the Feni district branch of Citizens for Good Governance (Suprok), urged local authorities to enforce daily market inspections across both town and village centers to protect vulnerable consumers.

In response to growing public dissatisfaction, Md Asadul Islam, Assistant Director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection in Feni, stated that market monitoring drives are underway. He assured the public that formal complaints regarding price gouging would lead to administrative hearings and swift legal sanctions. Meanwhile, Feni District Commissioner Mohammad Mahbubul Karim confirmed that official market drives are active, but acknowledged that 18 major local suppliers have reported purchasing LPG above BDT 1,900 at source. The District Commissioner affirmed that the matter has been formally escalated to the relevant ministry for prompt resolution.