LP Gas Crisis: People slam Yunus for inefficiency in checking soaring prices

Bangladesh is grappling with a severe shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas, leaving millions of households struggling to cook daily meals. The crisis, which has persisted for over two weeks, has forced residents to rely on electric cookers, wood stoves, or eating out, while LPG cylinders are sold at nearly double the government-fixed price.

Amid rising public frustration, critics point to systemic issues, including alleged artificial scarcity and policy failures under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

The shortage began escalating in late December 2025, with LPG imports disrupted by global vessel shortages and seasonal demand spikes. By January 2026, a 12kg LPG cylinder, officially priced at Tk1,306 by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), was being sold for up to Tk2,500 in markets across Dhaka and other districts. This markup represents a 68% increase, despite adequate national stocks, according to government officials.

Pipeline natural gas supply has also been hit hard by accidents, including a leak in Aminbazar on January 4 and a valve burst near Ganabhaban on January 10, affecting areas like Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, and Shyamoli. Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC reported that low winter temperatures and water ingress in pipelines have compounded the low pressure, with supply dropping to 2,596 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) in early January, down from 2,826 mmcfd in 2022.

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The crisis extends beyond households, with monthly LPG demand at 140,000 tons far outstripping supply, leading to a 30,000-ton deficit in December alone. Analysts attribute the shortfall to long-standing structural problems, including reduced local production and stalled LNG expansion plans under the current administration.

Residents across Dhaka have shared harrowing accounts of the daily struggles. Saimun Nahar Parma from Kazipara recounted her ordeal: “With two young children at home, we can’t rely on eating outside. We even tried buying cylinders at higher prices nearby, but none were available. I finally paid Tk4,200 for a cooker that normally costs Tk3,500-3,600.”

Khadija Begum of Gulbagh in Moghbazar echoed similar sentiments: “I bought a Tk5,000 electric cooker after daily LPG supply disruptions. Cooking on it takes longer, but there was no alternative.”

Kamrunnessa Ruhi, a Mohammadpur resident, described the desperation: “Gas pressure is often very low, forcing her to use an LPG stove as an alternative. Now, there is no gas in the pipeline and LPG cylinders are also unavailable. She had to bring food from a hotel one day and yesterday she was compelled to purchase an electric stove.”

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Mir Hojaifa Al Mamduh from Mohammadpur added: “The past few days have been mentally distressing. My salary is limited and most of it goes toward rent and daily expenses. The additional cost of buying an electric stove would be a heavy burden.”

Retailers have seen a surge in electric cooker sales. Md Siam, owner of a store in Krishi Market, noted: “Normally we sold 2 cookers a month; now we sell 2-3 a day. Prices have risen by Tk500-1,000 due to high demand, but cookers are still available at Tk3,500-4,500.”

Impact on Transportation and Economy

The shortage has rippled into the transport sector, where 15,000 tons of LPG are needed monthly for autogas. Nearly all LPG autogas stations have shut down, affecting over 150,000 vehicles. Md Serajul Mawla, president of the Bangladesh LPG Autogas Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association, stated at a press conference: “The ongoing LPG shortage is having a severe adverse impact on the country’s transport system, consumer interests, energy security and the daily lives of ordinary people.”

Farhan Noor, secretary general of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association, highlighted: “CNG stations have not been receiving gas according to demand for a long time and supply has decreased further in recent days. Due to low pressure, refuelling a vehicle now takes half an hour instead of five minutes, increasing operational costs for stations.”

Broader economic strains are evident, with Bangladesh’s GDP growth hitting a 20-year low amid energy shortages and factory closures. Industrialists warn of job losses, with power and gas crises pushing sectors toward collapse.

The interim government has taken steps to address the crisis. Bangladesh Bank has eased LPG import rules, allowing credit facilities with a 270-day loan term. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) expressed interest in direct imports to stabilise supply.

Power and Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan denied a genuine supply shortage, blaming collusion: “The abnormal price hike and temporary scarcity were the result of ‘collusion and deliberate manoeuvring’ by wholesalers and retailers, not a failure in imports or production.” He added that LNG imports increased to 109 cargoes in 2025 from 94 in 2024, and the government is exploring government-to-government imports for LPG.

Temporary measures include VAT relief on imports, lower interest rates, and easier LC processing. However, traders’ strikes for higher margins have complicated efforts, with LPG Operators Association president Mohammed Amirul Haque admitting: “I cannot say all of us are honest.”

The crisis has fueled political tensions, with opposition voices labeling the Yunus-led interim government as illegitimate following the July 2024 upheaval that ousted the elected Awami League administration. Critics accuse the regime of reforms that exacerbate public suffering, including price hikes on essentials, amid alleged alliances with Islamist groups and foreign influences.

A Bengali opinion piece circulating online lambasts: “The unelected government has pushed the country to a point where even paying Tk4,800 doesn’t get you a gas cylinder. Reforms mean making ordinary people’s lives unbearable.” It ties the crisis to broader mismanagement since the “blood-soaked riots” of July 2024, claiming support from foreign funding, Islamic militants, and the military.

Detractors argue that delays in addressing energy needs have worsened the situation. With elections looming, the government faces mounting pressure to resolve the crisis, as public discontent grows over what some call a deliberate effort to undermine economic stability.