LPG sales resume as traders withdraw strike

The strike enforced by LPG traders has been withdrawn following a meeting with Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed.

As a result, the LPG sales resumed across the country from Thursday.

The announcement came after a meeting held at the BERC office on Thursday, where traders agreed to call off the strike, bringing relief to consumers amid an ongoing gas shortage.

Selim Khan, president of the Gas Traders’ Cooperative Association, said the strike would be withdrawn if drives by the Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection against LPG shops were stopped.

Traders have also demanded that the retail price of a 12kg LPG cylinder be fixed at Tk1,500 at the consumer level.

Meanwhile, in view of the growing shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and volatility in prices, initiatives have been taken to reassess VAT and tax structures at both the import and local production stages.

Steps are also being taken to simplify bank loans and the opening of letters of credit (LCs) for LPG imports.

On Thursday, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division sent a letter to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), requesting necessary measures to restructure the tax framework by considering LPG as a “green fuel” in light of the current situation.

On the same day, the division also wrote to the governor of Bangladesh Bank, urging that loan applications and LC openings for LPG imports be settled on a priority basis by commercial banks.

The traders’ organisation had announced the suspension of LPG cylinder supply and sales nationwide on Wednesday night, following raids and fines imposed across the country.

From Thursday, as part of their protest programme, they had also planned to halt LPG lifting from the plants of all companies until their demands were met.

However, after discussions with the regulator, the strike was withdrawn and LPG supply and sales resumed.