There is a severe shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders in the market. A 12-kg LPG cylinder, which is priced at Tk 1,306 by the government, is being sold at retail for Tk 2,300 to Tk 2,500. There have also been complaints of it being sold at higher prices in some places.

The affected buyers said that many shopkeepers refused to give them the cylinders when they mentioned the fixed price. Even when they bought them at an extra price, the retailers did not give them any receipts. They said that since charging an extra price is illegal, providing a receipt would be proof.

Meanwhile, many shops are completely out of LPG cylinders. Customers are being turned away citing supply shortages. People from lower and middle class families are suffering the most.

Meanwhile, due to the ongoing crisis and price hike in the country, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has been given permission to import LPG to reduce the sole dependence of the private sector on LPG, said Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, Advisor to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

This state-owned company has been given in-principle approval to import LPG on a government-to-government (G-to-G) basis.