Dhaka, Jan 29, 2026: Residents of Bashundhara Residential Area in the capital faced severe hardship on Wednesday as the supply of natural gas through the Titas Gas pipeline remained completely shut throughout the day, with the situation continuing until the filing of this report at 11:00pm.
Speaking to residents across different blocks of Bashundhara, it was learned that a total gas blackout prevailed in the area, disrupting daily household activities and causing widespread distress among families.
Cooking and Safe Drinking Water Severely Affected
From cooking meals to boiling water for safe drinking, daily life in Bashundhara heavily depends on gas supply. Unlike many parts of the country, Dhaka has no tubewell-based drinking water system. Instead, city residents rely on water supplied by WASA, which sources and treats water from rivers such as the Shitalakhya and others that are heavily affected by industrial pollution and chemical discharge.
As a result, boiling water before consumption remains essential for many households. The prolonged gas outage left residents struggling to ensure safe drinking water, especially for children and elderly family members.
LPG Crisis Adds to Public Suffering
Most families in Bashundhara maintain LPG cylinders as a backup due to the irregular nature of Titas gas supply. However, the crisis has worsened as the supply of LPG cylinders has reportedly declined sharply across Dhaka and other parts of the country.
For nearly a month, households as well as hotels and restaurants nationwide have been affected by the shortage of LPG cylinders. Residents allege that syndication by vested interests has created an artificial crisis, pushing prices higher and holding consumers hostage.
To compound public suffering, state-owned Titas Gas supply to Bashundhara Residential Area remained fully suspended on Wednesday (January 28, 2026), while gas supply in other parts of Dhaka continues to fluctuate unpredictably—coming and going multiple times a day.
Voices from the Affected Residents
Rebeka Begum, a housewife from Bashundhara Residential Area, described her ordeal: “From morning until 11:30 at night, gas did not come even once. I don’t know how I will boil water for drinking for my family, especially for my small children.”
She said gas supply usually stops between 7:00 and 7:30am, forcing families to rely on LPG cylinders. “I bought a cylinder just two or three days before the supply stopped. Then we went to our village during our children’s winter vacation and returned after 15 days. Today, the cylinder ran out exactly when there was no Titas gas at all.”
Calling it a double financial burden, she said families are forced to pay fixed Titas gas bills while also spending heavily on LPG amid soaring prices of essential commodities.
Echoing similar concerns, Md Hasan, a security guard at a house in G-Block of Bashundhara, said he could not cook food at all on Wednesday. “Other days, gas performance is also very poor. Most of the time there is no gas, but we still have to pay a fixed monthly bill,” he said.
Citywide Impact Beyond Bashundhara
The gas crisis is not limited to Bashundhara alone. Md Kabul, a resident of Mirpur-10 near Shah Ali Market, described the erratic gas supply in his area as chaotic. “Gas goes at 7:30 or 8:00am, comes at 3:00 or 4:00pm, goes again at 7:00 or 8:00pm, and sometimes comes back at 11:00pm. It feels like a circus.”
He said managing household work under such uncertainty has become nearly impossible. “Families are busy with business, cooking, and children’s studies. If food cannot be cooked or water boiled on time, how will children eat and go to school?”
Paying Bills Without Service Monir Hossain, a teacher at an English-medium school in Dhaka, pointed out that under regulations enforced in June 2022 and still in effect, non-metered residential gas users must pay fixed monthly bills regardless of service quality.
According to the rules: Double burner: BDT 1,080 per month Single burner: BDT 990 per month “People are paying compulsory bills without receiving proper service, while a section of officials benefits,” he said. He added that LPG producers and suppliers have exploited the situation, leaving consumers trapped between two unreliable systems.
Fear Over Dhaka’s Livability
Md Kibria, a flat owner in Shewrapara under Mirpur-10, described similar struggles. “It has become difficult to provide food for my two school-going daughters. If this situation continues, Dhaka will lose its livability,” he warned.
Growing Public Concern
Residents are increasingly questioning how long urban households can endure rising costs, unreliable utilities, and lack of accountability. With gas supply remaining unstable and LPG shortages persisting, public frustration continues to grow, highlighting the urgent need for transparent management and effective solutions to prevent further hardship.
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