Has the government cut off gas supply in Khilgaon-Basabo area?

Staff Reporter

For the past few months, the lives of Dhaka residents have been disrupted due to a severe gas crisis in the capital. Although natural gas shortages have been observed in areas like Mirpur, Pallabi, Magbazar, Rampura, and Banasree, no initiatives have been taken by the government to address the issue. On June 19 (Thursday), there was no gas supply to homes in the Khilgaon-Basabo area throughout the day. At 11 PM when this report was being written, gas supply had still not resumed in Khilgaon, Tilpapara, Basabo, Sabujbag, Rajarbagh, Nandipara, Dakshingaon, Meradia, and Mugda areas.

Residents of these areas are suffering immensely due to the lack of gas supply. Fatema Yasmin, a working woman from Nandipara, told BD Digest, “There was no gas in the morning, so I couldn’t prepare breakfast. After returning from the office, I found there was still no gas. I had no choice but to buy food from outside.”

Residents of the capital have been suffering from a severe gas crisis for the past few months. However, in the Khilgaon-Basabo area today, there was no gas supply at all throughout the day. Tasnima Khatun, a homemaker from Khilgaon Chowdhurypara, said, “There has been no gas since before Eid. Before, at least gas would come in the evening. Now, there’s no gas even after waiting all day. Today, it feels like there’s no gas in the line at all.”

The sudden halt in gas supply has left residents in distress. They describe this unprecedented incident of gas supply being cut off without any prior notice. Mokhlesur Rahman, a resident of Basabo Patawary Lane, said, “If there was any work on the line, they used to announce it beforehand. This time, no information was given. The stove hasn’t been lit all day. Eating has become impossible. Such a thing has never happened before.”

Many residents suspect whether the government has intentionally cut off gas supply to residential areas. They refer to a statement made by the energy advisor a few days ago, which was covered in the media. On June 13 (Friday), during an inspection of the Kailashtila MSTIE Plant in Golapganj, Sylhet, the advisor to the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, said, “If possible, I would shut off all residential gas connections in Dhaka.” While collecting information for this report on the ground, Jahangir Alam, a school teacher and resident of Khilgaon Taltola, showed the news on his mobile phone and told the reporter, “Has the energy advisor started with the Khilgaon-Basabo area? There’s been no gas all day, but we still have to pay the gas bill. We pay 1080 taka per month for a double burner, but we’re not getting any gas.”

Residents say life has become more chaotic due to the gas crisis at home. On one hand, they have to pay gas bills, and on the other, the lack of adequate gas supply forces them to buy food from outside, increasing living expenses. Nurjahan Begum, a resident of the Buddhist Temple area, said, “Due to the lack of gas supply, I had to buy an induction stove. Now, I’m paying the gas bill and also seeing an increase in electricity costs. I’ve never been in such a predicament before.”

Several residents, unwilling to disclose their names, told the reporter that previously, they could discuss such issues with councilors or commissioners. Now, no one takes responsibility. Even with legal connections from Titas, many are forced to use cylinder gas, which increases costs. There’s no one to address these issues.

Despite multiple calls to Titas’ helpline (16496), no one answered. Repeated calls to the mobile numbers (01955500188-89) of the Motijheel team listed on Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC’s website for the Khilgaon-Basabo area also went unanswered. Finally, when the reporter physically visited Titas’ office, they were told to contact the ministry. When asked whether the government had cut off gas supply in the Khilgaon-Basabo area, an unnamed Titas official said, “Ask the ministry. They give the orders. We don’t know anything.”