United News of Bangladesh

Consumers are growing worried over the latest LPG price hike as shortages persist across the country, with 12-kg cylinders being sold for Tk 2,200 to Tk 2,500 in areas where gas is available, far above the newly announced official price of Tk 1,837. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Sunday announced a fresh hike in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices at the consumer level, raising the rate of a 12-kilogram cylinder by Tk 252 to Tk 1,837. However, field reports indicate that consumers across the country are already trapped in a chaotic retail market where 12-kg cylinders are selling for between Tk 2,200 and Tk 2,600—up to Tk 1,000 above government-fixed benchmarks—while many retail outlets have run completely out of stock. While state-owned LP Gas Limited (LPGL) maintains a price of Tk 777 for its 12.5-kg cylinder, its negligible market share leaves over 98 percent of the country’s bottled gas consumers entirely dependent on private distributors. High-level meetings and govt crackdown The price hike comes just a day after Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir held an urgent meeting with LPG importers at Secretariat on Saturday to address the deteriorating market situation. The high-level intervention follows the Energy Minister’s September 30 directive to Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to investigate whether an artificial crisis is being engineered by market syndicates and to take strict legal action against price gougers. Pipeline gas deficit fueling LPG demand Industry insiders and energy experts attribute the unprecedented supply strain to a severe shortfall in national pipeline natural gas. According to Petrobangla, against a nationwide demand of nearly 4,000 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD), current domestic extraction and LNG regasification deliver only around 2,600 MMCFD. The resulting power cuts and pipeline gas shortages have forced thousands of households, commercial eateries, and small industries to shift to bottled LPG, creating a demand surge that existing private distribution networks are struggling to meet. Global shipping & freight surge Compounding local issues, private importers cite mounting international headwinds. For September, Saudi Aramco raised its Contract Price (Saudi CP) to $625 per tonne for propane and $660 per tonne for butane. More critically, global LPG availability has tightened due to Middle East geopolitical conflicts, driving ocean freight rates to record highs. Importers said while BERC calculated retail prices using a freight benchmark of $160 per tonne, actual international shipping costs have surged to $400 per tonne, forcing several private operators to curtail import volumes to prevent heavy financial losses. Blame game over import data The market crisis has also triggered internal friction within the LPG sector. Official reports indicate that LPG imports dropped from nearly 160,000 tonnes in August to around 120,000 tonnes in September. However, a group of LPG operators submitted a formal letter to the Energy Division on October 1 claiming import volumes remained steady. They alleged that certain major importers deliberately delayed offloading and releasing imported LPG cargoes to generate artificial market pressure and inflate prices, demanding an independent inquiry into the bottleneck. With winter approaching—a season that traditionally sees a seasonal uptick in global heating fuel demand—consumers and industry stakeholders warn that without strict market monitoring and streamlined import support, Bangladesh’s LPG market could face even deeper instability in the coming months. Experts denounce BERC's 'regulatory failure' Denouncing the price hike, Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Energy Adviser Prof. M. Shamsul Alam termed BERC's decision a "validation of illegal market manipulation."  He said the raising official prices while failing to enforce retail compliance only shields dishonest syndicates without ensuring gas availability for ordinary citizens. Energy expert and former BUET professor Dr. Ijaz Hossain highlighted the policy oversight behind the crisis, emphasising that shifting the nation's energy demand from depleted domestic pipeline gas to imported LPG without expanding state-owned buffer stocks or establishing a price stabilisation fund leaves consumers at the mercy of private cartels and volatile global freight markets.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has raised the retail price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by Tk21 per kilogramme for October, taking the price of a 12kg cylinder up by Tk252 to Tk1,837. The new prices will take effect from 6pm on Sunday and remain in force until further orders, according to a BERC notification issued on Sunday. The regulator fixed the retail price of private LPG, including VAT, at Tk153.06 per kg for October, compared with Tk132.08 per kg in September. The September rate had brought the price of a 12kg cylinder down by Tk13 to Tk1,585. The October increase follows a rise in Saudi Aramco’s Contract Price (Saudi CP). The average Saudi CP for propane and butane, based on a 35:65 ratio, rose to $712.50 per metric tonne in October from $647.75 in September. The price of a 5.5kg LPG cylinder has been fixed at Tk842 for October, up from Tk727 in September, while the price of a 12.5kg cylinder has increased to Tk1,913 from Tk1,652. The prices of 15kg, 20kg and 45kg cylinders have been set at Tk2,296, Tk3,061 and Tk6,888, respectively, compared with Tk1,982, Tk2,642 and Tk5,945 in September. The price of autogas, used mainly in motor vehicles, has also been raised significantly. BERC fixed the consumer-level price at Tk84.62 per litre for October, up Tk11.53 from Tk73.09 in September. For LPG supplied through reticulated systems, the consumer price has been fixed at Tk149.31 per kg in liquid form and Tk0.3319 per litre, or Tk331.90 per cubic metre, in gaseous form. The regulator kept the price of state-owned LPG unchanged at Tk776.93 for a 12.5kg cylinder at dealer and retailer points, under its order issued on February 23, 2026. BERC also instructed LPG storage and bottling licensees to sell LPG to distributors at the revised post-bottling price and issue VAT invoices or delivery orders accordingly. The increase comes amid reports of supply shortages and higher retail prices for LPG in parts of the country. Despite BERC’s September-fixed price of Tk1,585 for a 12kg cylinder, consumers in some areas are paying considerably more because of supply constraints.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Wednesday cut the retail price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by Tk 1.03 per kilogramme for September, bringing the price of the widely used 12kg cylinder down by Tk 13 to Tk 1,585. The new price came into effect at 6pm on Wednesday. The 12kg LPG cylinder was priced at Tk 1,598 in August, after rising sharply by Tk 70 from Tk 1,528 in July. Despite this month’s reduction, consumers are still paying Tk 57 more per cylinder than they did in July. The price adjustment comes amid a continuing shortage of piped natural gas, which has increased household dependence on LPG for cooking and put additional pressure on household budgets.According to BERC, Saudi Aramco’s September contract prices for propane and butane, based on a 35:65 ratio, put the average Saudi CP (contract price) at $647.75 per metric tonne. The commission calculated the new LPG prices taking into account the Saudi CP, shipping costs, traders’ premiums and an average exchange rate of Tk 123.30 per US dollar. Under the revised pricing, the price of a 5.5kg cylinder has been set at Tk 727, while 12.5kg, 15kg, 16kg, 18kg, 20kg, 22kg, 25kg, 30kg, 33kg, 35kg and 45kg cylinders will cost Tk 1,652, Tk 1,982, Tk 2,113, Tk 2,378, Tk 2,642, Tk 2,907, Tk 3,303, Tk 3,964, Tk 4,360, Tk 4,624 and Tk 5,945 respectively. The price of autogas used in vehicles has also been reduced to Tk 73.09 per litre. However, the price of the state-owned company’s 12.5kg LPG cylinder remains unchanged at Tk 776.93. BERC has been fixing LPG prices every month since April 2021 based on international prices of propane and butane, known as Saudi CP, and the US dollar exchange rate. Consumers, however, have long complained that LPG is often unavailable at the prices fixed by the regulator. Reiterating its pricing order, BERC said no level of the supply chain, including storage, bottling, distribution or retail, could charge consumers more than the prices fixed by the commission.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Sunday expressed deep concern over the increase in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) amid rising prices of essential commodities in the country. In a statement, the party’s Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said, “People are already struggling due to the rising prices of daily necessities. At this time, increasing the prices of LPG and autogas used by households and vehicles has added further financial pressure on consumers, which is very worrying. I condemn such an anti-people decision of the government.” He said the government has increased the prices of oil, gas and electricity in phases, which has led to a continuous rise in the prices of various essential goods. “Although the incomes of people from different sections, including lower- and middle-income groups, have not increased, their expenses have continued to rise, disrupting normal life,” he said, urging the government to immediately withdraw the increased gas prices. Porwar said the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Sunday increased the consumer-level price of a 12-kg LPG cylinder, widely used for household purposes, by Tk 70. Following the hike, the price of a 12-kg LPG cylinder has been fixed at Tk 1,598, up from Tk 1,528. The price of autogas has also increased to Tk 73.67 per litre, he added. The Jamaat leader warned that the LPG price hike could affect all sectors, including production, and urged the government to take necessary steps to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet the country’s demand. He also called for withdrawing the increased LPG price and restoring relief for consumers.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Sunday raised the retail price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for August by Tk 70, setting the price of a 12kg cylinder at Tk 1598, up from Tk 1,528. The revised price will come into effect from Sunday evening, according to the energy regulator. BERC also increased the price of auto gas (LPG used in vehicles) to Tk 73.67 per litre from Tk 70.40 per litre. The commission revises LPG prices every month based on fluctuations in international benchmark prices as well as other applicable costs.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has reduced the price of privately supplied liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for June, lowering the retail price of a 12kg cylinder by Tk 55 to Tk 1,885. The new prices came into effect from 6pm on Tuesday, according to a BERC notification issued as part of its monthly price adjustment mechanism. Under the revised rates, the retail consumer price of privately marketed LPG has been fixed at Tk 157.06 per kilogram. LPG price to remain steady for May Accordingly, the price of a 5.5kg cylinder has been set at Tk 864, while a 12.5kg cylinder will cost Tk 1,963. Prices for larger cylinders have been fixed at Tk 2,356 for 15kg, Tk 2,513 for 16kg, Tk 2,827 for 18kg, Tk 3,141 for 20kg, Tk 3,455 for 22kg, Tk 3,927 for 25kg, Tk 4,712 for 30kg, Tk 5,183 for 33kg, Tk 5,497 for 35kg and Tk 7,068 for 45kg cylinders. BERC said the revised rates were determined based on the Saudi Aramco Contract Price (CP) for June 2026, which was set at US$760 per metric tonne for propane and US$820 per metric tonne for butane. Considering a propane-butane mix ratio of 35:65, the average Saudi CP stood at US$799 per metric tonne. The regulator also took into account a freight and trader premium of US$200 per metric tonne and an average exchange rate of Tk 122.81 per US dollar while calculating the new prices. For LPG supplied in liquid form through reticulated systems, the price has been set at Tk 153.31 per kilogram. Gas supplied in vapour form through such systems will cost Tk 0.3407 per litre or Tk 340.70 per cubic metre. BERC also reduced the price of autogas to Tk 86.93 per litre from Tk 89.52 per litre in May. The commission said prices of state-owned LPG would remain unchanged. Under an order issued on February 23, the consumer price of a 12.5kg cylinder sold through dealer or retailer points of government-owned companies will continue at Tk 776.93. The latest reduction follows BERC’s decision in May to keep the price of a 12kg LPG cylinder unchanged at Tk 1,940. Earlier, on April 19, the regulator increased the price of a 12kg cylinder by Tk 212 to Tk 1,940. Before that, on April 2, it raised the price from Tk 1,341 to Tk 1,728, an increase of Tk 387. As a result, the price of a 12kg cylinder rose by a cumulative Tk 599 within just 17 days between April 2 and April 19 before easing slightly in June. According to BERC, the revised rates have been implemented under Order No. 2026/19 with effect from Tuesday evening.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced on Sunday that it will keep the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) price unchanged for May, giving consumers a breather after two consecutive hikes last month. In a notice issued in the afternoon, BERC said LPG will sell at April's fixed rates in May, keeping the price of the widely-used 12-kg cylinder at Tk 1,940. The decision comes after the LPG price was revised upward twice in April: by Tk 32.30 per kg on April 2, and again by Tk 17.62 per kg on April 19, pushing the 12-kg cylinder price from Tk 1,728 to Tk 1,940. For autogas, BERC fixed the consumer-level price at Tk 89.52 per litre (VAT inclusive) for May, a marginal increase of Tk 0.02 per litre over the revised April rate. Autogas also saw two upward adjustments in April. On April 2, the price rose by Tk 17.94 per litre to Tk 79.77 (VAT inclusive), followed by a further hike of Tk 9.73 per litre on April 19, setting it at Tk 89.50 per litre.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Sunday expressed deep concern over the recent hike in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices, urging the authorities to reconsider the decision. In a statement, party Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission has increased the price of a 12-kg LPG cylinder by Tk 212, setting the new rate at Tk 1,940 at the consumer level. He said such a hike would put additional pressure on ordinary people already struggling with rising living costs. Parwar also noted that the LPG price had been raised by Tk 387 to Tk 1,728 earlier on April 2, adding that two consecutive increases within a short period would make public life more difficult. He said the situation has worsened due to significant increases in the prices of other fuels, warning that the overall cost of living would rise further. “When people are already burdened by the rising prices of essential commodities, such a price hike will make their lives even harder,” he said. Describing LPG as an essential fuel for lower- and middle-income households, Parwar said the increased cost would directly affect cooking expenses and household budgets, calling the decision against public interest. The party demanded immediate reconsideration of the new price and withdrawal of what it termed an “unreasonable” hike.

Consumers will pay more for cooking gas as Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) raised Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) price again on Sunday, the second increase in just 18 days. The new rates took effect at 6 pm Sunday. The price of a 12-kg cylinder, the most common household size, has been raised by Tk 212 to Tk 1,940. Combined with the previous revision, consumers have absorbed a cumulative increase of Tk 599 on the standard cylinder within less than three weeks. The last adjustment was made on April 2 when the 12-kg cylinder was priced at Tk 1,728. BERC cited rising LPG import freight charges, trader premium costs and higher diesel prices as the reasons behind the revision. The revised LPG prices for different cylinder sizes are as follows-5.5 kg at Tk 889; 12.5 kg at Tk 2,021; 15 kg at Tk 2,425; 16 kg at Tk 2,587; 18 kg at Tk 2,910; 20 kg at Tk 3,233; 22 kg at Tk 3,557; 25 kg at Tk 4,042; 30 kg at Tk 4,850; 33 kg at Tk 5,335; 35 kg at Tk 5,658; and 45 kg at Tk 7,275. The revised rates apply to both private-sector LPG and auto-gas (vehicular CNG alternative) at the consumer level.  

The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has been increased again at the consumer level, with the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) raising the price of a 12 kg LPG cylinder by Tk 387 for April. According to a BERC announcement issued on Thursday afternoon, the new price of a 12 kg LPG cylinder has been fixed at Tk 1,728 up from Tk 1,341. The revised price will come into effect from 6pm. According to the regulator, the retail price of private LPG (including VAT) has been fixed at Tk 144.04 per kg at the consumer level. The price of a 5.5-kg cylinder has been set at Tk 792, 12.5 kg at Tk 1,801, 15kg at Tk 2,161, 16kg at Tk 2,305, 18kg at Tk 2,593 and 20kg at Tk 2,881. Similarly, a 22kg cylinder will cost Tk 3,169, 25kg Tk 3,601, 30kg Tk 4,321, 33kg Tk 4,753, 35kg Tk 5,041 and 45kg cylinder Tk 6,428. In March, LPG prices remained unchanged in the local market. However, on February 23, the price of a 12kg cylinder was reduced by Tk 15 to Tk 1,341, which had remained in effect until the latest revision. Meanwhile, the price of autogas has also been increased for April. The VAT-inclusive retail price has been set at Tk 79.77 per litre, up by Tk 17.94. Previously, on March 2, the price of autogas was last adjusted, when it was reduced by Tk 0.03 to Tk 61.83 per litre at the consumer level.