Energy Advisor Urges Bringing LPG Cylinder Prices Below Tk 1,000

Bangladesh’s interim government energy advisor Mohammad Fouzul Kabir Khan has stressed the urgent need to bring down the price of LPG cylinders to within Tk 1,000, arguing that the current market rate of Tk 1,200-1,500 is placing a heavy burden on both households and industries.

Speaking on Saturday, October 11, at a policy conclave titled “LPG in Bangladesh: Economy, Environment and Safety” organized by Bonik Barta at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka, Khan said that controlling LPG prices is essential to tackling the country’s short-term energy crisis. He emphasized that without price regulation, improved logistics, and greater efficiency in the private sector, Bangladesh cannot ensure long-term energy security.

The advisor noted that the country’s primary energy shortage is not a natural crisis but rather the result of poor planning and mismanagement. He pointed out that demand projections were ignored in electricity generation and gas supply planning, leading to widespread illegal connections in both households and industries. According to him, local gas production is declining by about 200 million cubic feet per year, while only 70 million cubic feet is being newly sourced. Although LNG imports have been introduced to fill the gap, their high cost has drawn criticism.

Khan argued that while LNG requires long-term arrangements, LPG can serve as an effective short-term alternative to address immediate shortages. He reiterated that reducing the price of LPG cylinders to below Tk 1,000 would not only ease the pressure on consumers but also stabilize the energy market in the near term.

The event was also attended by Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, a member of the BNP’s National Standing Committee, as special guest, and Jalal Ahmed, chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), as guest of honor. Their presence highlighted the broad political and regulatory interest in addressing the challenges of Bangladesh’s energy sector.

The call to reduce LPG prices reflects growing concern that without immediate intervention, rising energy costs could further strain households and industries already grappling with supply shortages and economic pressures.