Govt to Sell LPG Directly to Consumers as Distributors Overcharge Up to Tk 450 per Cylinder

Facing widespread overpricing by distributors—charging up to Tk450 more than the fixed rate—the government is moving to sell LPG cylinders produced by Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) directly to consumers. Although BPC has set the price at Tk825 for a 12.5-kg cylinder, distributors are selling them at inflated rates of Tk1,000 to Tk1,350. To tackle this, a new policy is being drafted to allow direct sales, particularly in gas-producing areas like Sylhet, Bhola, and Brahmanbaria. The initiative, to be overseen by government gas companies and local administrations, aims to ensure affordable access to LPG and reduce middlemen’s control.