Shortage Despite Adequate Stock: Artificial Price Hikes Lead to Profiteering.

In Dhaka and other major cities, the price of 12-kg LPG cylinders has risen 300 to 1,200 Taka above the government-fixed rate. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) set the price at 1,306 Taka in January and 1,356 Taka in February 2026. However, in the capital’s markets, the same cylinder sold for 1,700 to 2,500 Taka, with similar trends reported in Chittagong and other cities.

The Daily Star reports that, despite sufficient stock, suppliers and dealers artificially created a shortage to hike prices. This was not a result of normal market fluctuations but a planned manipulation.

Analysts note that during the Yunus government’s tenure, while BERC set the monthly price, the government did not take effective measures to enforce it. The Department of Consumer Rights occasionally conducted raids, but no strict action was taken against major importers. Consequently, those who created artificial scarcity and made excess profits faced no accountability.

In Dhaka, there were reports of a 12-kg cylinder selling for up to 2,500 Taka in January, meaning consumers paid nearly 1,200 Taka extra per cylinder over the official price. This extra cost came out of households’ daily budgets, small business owners’ working capital, and middle-class families, enriching large importers and dealers instead.

Experts emphasize that the government’s primary responsibility is to regulate the market and ensure fair prices for essential commodities. However, the Yunus government failed to uphold this duty. While prices were fixed on paper, the market was left in the hands of syndicates.

Analysts question whether the artificial shortage, despite adequate stock, was due to government inefficiency or deliberate profiteering. The syndicate leaders are familiar names—the major LPG companies. Their ownership and business connections remain largely uninvestigated, violating public rights.

In summary: There was no supervision, no punishment, no accountability—consumers paid extra every month for cooking, while syndicates pocketed the profits.