LPG price jumps by Tk 53 at once, yet consumers cannot get Tk 1,300 cylinder for Tk 2,000

Staff Correspondent

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has increased the price of a 12.5 kg (12 kg) LPG cylinder by Tk 53 to Tk 1,306 for the current January. However, this government price is not reflected in the market. LPG cylinders are being sold at Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,000 in various areas of the country, including the capital. Customers complain that cylinders are not available even at this price in some places.

BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed announced the new prices at a press conference on Sunday evening, January 4. According to the announcement, the new prices will come into effect from 6 pm.

Price hiked by 53 taka in one go: Supply crisis or artificial shortage—question for consumers

According to BERC data, the price of 12 kg LPG was Tk 1,253 in December 2025. In January, it increased to Tk 1,306. That is, the price increased by Tk 53 in one month. The price increased by Tk 38 in the previous month.

According to the new price, the price of private LPG, including Value Added Tax (VAT), has been fixed at Tk 108.83 per kg. Last month, it was Tk 104.41 per kg. The price per kg has increased by Tk 4.42 per kg in one month.

Consumer and consumer rights organizations have alleged that cylinders disappear in many areas before the price increase. Later, when the price increases, there is a sudden surge in supply in the market. This has led to allegations of excessive profits by creating an artificial crisis.

There are allegations that some businessmen are hoarding, especially during the winter season, taking advantage of the increased demand for cooking.

Government prices are only on paper, there is a terrible crisis in the market

Even after the government announced the price, there is a severe shortage of LPG in the market. Especially for the past month, cylinders have not been available in many areas. Even when they are available, customers complain that they are being charged 800 to 1,000 taka more per cylinder than the fixed price.

After investigating various areas of Dhaka including Mirpur, Jatrabari, Mohammadpur, it has been found that many shopkeepers are directly stating that they do not have gas at the government price. Some are refusing to provide gas when the fixed price is mentioned.

Housewife Sabina Khatun said, “Gas that cost 1200 taka is now not available even for 1800 taka. When I go to the store, they say they don’t have gas, but later I hear that someone else has given it to me at a higher price.”

Why the increased prices? BERC’s statement

Responding to journalists’ questions about the increased prices, BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed said, “Businessmen say that at the production stage they are selling to distributors at the fixed price. If they are selling at the retail stage at an increased price, the Department of Consumer Rights Protection is conducting a drive in this regard.”

He also said that BERC will definitely take action if any complaints of increased prices are received at the production stage.

Consumer rights groups claim that although BERC announces prices every month, it has no practical implementation in the retail market. Due to the lack of effective monitoring of dealers and retailers, LPG prices have practically gone out of control.

A consumer rights activist said, “If the difference between the government price and the market price is 700-1000 taka, then it is clearly a failure of supervision.”

Household customers suffer the most

The 12 kg LPG cylinder is most commonly used for domestic cooking. Due to the lack of natural gas connections, millions of families in both urban and rural areas depend on LPG. But due to the crisis in the market and the high prices, the monthly expenses of middle-class and low-income families have increased significantly.

Suravi Jannat, a resident of Mohammadpur, said that if supply is not ensured and strict monitoring is not done at the retail level in addition to fixing prices, the suffering in the LPG sector will increase further.