Staff Correspondent
Dhaka, Jan 8, 2026: The Energy Division has announced five immediate measures to address the ongoing shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), raising hopes that imports may increase and cylinder supplies in the domestic market could gradually return to normal.
However, LPG importers have cautioned that it may still take some time before the crisis is fully resolved.
LPG traders have declared a halt to cylinder sales starting Thursday (January 8). The LP Gas Traders Cooperative Society Limited said the nationwide suspension of sales would continue unless their demands are met.
According to the Energy Division, urgent steps have been taken to boost LPG imports. Bangladesh Bank has been requested to speed up the settlement of credit facilities for importers, while a proposal has been sent to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) seeking a reduction in value-added tax (VAT).
In addition, letters have been issued to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) requesting approval for five companies to import additional quantities of LPG.
A meeting between LPG traders and BERC is scheduled for this afternoon. The decision on whether LPG sales will resume or remain suspended will depend on the outcome of the discussion.
The president of the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB), Mohammad Amirul Haque, said an immediate increase in supply is not possible, but initiatives to expand imports are already underway. He expressed optimism that LPG availability in the market would improve in the near future.
The five initiatives taken by the Energy Division include speeding up the opening of letters of credit through Bangladesh Bank, requesting VAT reductions at the import and production stages from the National Board of Revenue, seeking BERC approval to allow five companies to import additional LPG, instructing district and upazila administrations to conduct regular mobile court operations to prevent artificial shortages, and ordering inspections of LPG storage facilities near Chattogram and Mongla ports to assess the actual condition of the supply chain.
Officials believe these measures will help stabilise the LPG market and reduce supply disruptions caused by distribution bottlenecks and alleged artificial shortages.
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