The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has recommended raising the retail price of a 12kg liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder from Tk 1,837 to Tk 1,976, following a public hearing on proposed price adjustments.
The recommendation was made by BERC’s technical evaluation committee at a public hearing held at the BIAM Foundation in Dhaka on Thursday.
The proposed increase of Tk 139 would raise the cylinder price by around 7.6 per cent. However, the final price will depend on the commission’s decision.
People familiar with the matter said BERC could announce the revised price as early as next week, although the commission is expected to consider recommendations and public feedback before making its decision.
Under the committee’s recommendations, the import parity price of LPG would be set at Tk 128.70 per kg, compared with the current rate of Tk 128.40.
The committee also proposed increasing the storage and bottling charge, including transportation costs from operators’ plants to distributors, to Tk 23.48 per kg from Tk 16.74.
The distribution charge, including transportation to retailers, was recommended to rise to Tk 6.67 per kg from Tk 4.17. Meanwhile, the retail charge, excluding home delivery costs, was proposed at Tk 5.83 per kg, up from Tk 3.75.
Taking these components into account, the committee recommended setting the total LPG price at the retailer level at Tk 164.68 per kg, compared with the current Tk 153.60.
At the hearing, Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) adviser Khalilur Rahman said BERC had a responsibility to consider consumers’ interests when reviewing LPG prices, warning that the hearing process would be ineffective if their concerns were overlooked.
Senior journalist Sirajul Islam also criticised the proposed increase, saying repeated price adjustments based on companies’ demands could undermine public confidence in the regulator.
He urged BERC to investigate why consumers were not receiving LPG at fair prices and to take action over allegations of overcharging and artificial shortages.
He called on the commission to reconsider the proposed increase and give greater priority to the interests of ordinary consumers.
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