The ongoing gas shortage in Bangladesh has escalated to a severe level due to a confluence of factors.
During the winter months, gas pressure naturally tends to drop, compounded by ageing infrastructure, a lack of dedicated supply lines for residential and commercial use, and a 72-hour halt in LNG supply due to maintenance at the Maheshkhali LNG station in Cox’s Bazar.
Moreover, a reduction in domestic gas production has further exacerbated the crisis.
The brunt of the gas shortage is being felt by low-income households, with residents facing severe hardships.
On the other hand, industrial production is also being disrupted, causing concern among analysts about the potential negative impact on the broader economy.
In response, citizen groups have warned of potential protests unless the issue is resolved promptly.
Titas Gas Managing Director (acting) Shahnewaz Parvez said that the maintenance work at the Maheshkhali LNG station had resulted in a 72-hour suspension of supply.
He explained that the daily supply of 300 million cubic feet of gas had been cut due to this suspension, which affected the overall supply chain. He added that, if the supply had been sufficient, these problems could have been avoided.
The official emphasised the need to increase domestic production to address the issue.
Like other distribution companies, Titas Gas is reliant on the larger distribution network, which is shared between industrial, residential, and commercial sectors.
Shahnewaz Parvez explained that, as gas is consumed by industries and then routed through to residential areas, leakage issues further exacerbate the problem when the supply is insufficient.
He highlighted that the country’s reliance on old pipelines also contributes to the issue.
Industry insiders revealed that PetroBangla allocates gas among six distribution companies, based on supply levels.
When the overall supply drops, the allocation is reduced across the board, leading to widespread shortages.
For instance, over the past two months, Titas Gas received 830 million cubic feet from LNG sources, which was reduced to 530 million cubic feet just yesterday, marking a 300 million cubic feet shortfall.
After the suspension, it takes about two days for the supply to stabilise, during which time pressure remains low.
In the capital, Dhaka, the gas shortage has been ongoing for nearly a month and a half, with supply only reaching residential areas late at night.
Gas pressure usually stabilises from midnight until around 5AM, after which it starts to decline.
For many residents, the only time they can cook is in the middle of the night, disrupting their sleep.
Those unable to cook late at night are forced to purchase breakfast or use electric stoves during the day.
In some cases, people are relying on gas cylinders despite having access to gas lines, due to the unreliable supply.
“Because of the gas shortage, I only cook one meal at night. If there’s no gas, I can’t even heat the food. As a result, I have to eat dry food like puffed rice, chips, or biscuits for lunch. Some days, I can’t even manage lunch because the gas never arrives despite waiting for it," said one sufferer resident.
A resident of the Mogbazar area shared a similar sentiment: “There is no gas supply at all in our area. When I try to light the stove, the flame flickers weakly.”
