CPB condemns artificial LPG shortage, price hike

The Dhaka north city unit of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) has strongly protested the latest increase in the price of a 12kg LPG cylinder, along with what it described as an artificial shortage and overpricing in the market.

In a statement on Sunday, CPB Dhaka north city unit President Hasan Hafizur Rahman Sohel and General Secretary Luna Noor said that the price of a 12kg LPG cylinder had been increased by a huge margin at a time when people were already struggling with rising prices of essential commodities.

They said the latest increase would add to the financial burden on ordinary people, whose incomes and purchasing power were already out of step with market prices.

“People are struggling to meet their household expenses. The increase in LPG prices will create further hardship for them,” the leaders said.

They noted that large numbers of low-income, lower-middle-income and fixed-income families live in different parts of Dhaka, including Dhaka North. Cooking gas is an essential part of their daily lives, they said, adding that higher LPG prices would increase monthly household expenses, particularly for workers, low-income families and tenants.

The CPB leaders also expressed concern over reports of an artificial shortage of LPG cylinders and their sale at prices higher than the government-fixed rate.

They said preventing such irregularities in the market for essential commodities was the responsibility of the government. However, consumers are repeatedly facing difficulties due to inadequate market monitoring and regulation, they alleged.

The leaders demanded immediate withdrawal of the increased price of 12kg LPG cylinders, uninterrupted supply of gas, an end to artificial shortages and overpricing, and effective measures to stabilise and regulate the market.

They also called on the government to take immediate measures in the public interest to reduce the pressure on people caused by rising prices of essential commodities.