After a series of four price hikes, the price of a 12 kg cylinder of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been reduced by only Tk 1 taka for November, now set at Tk 1,455, down from Tk 1,456.
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the new rates on Tuesday afternoon, which took effect that evening. Prices for other privately-supplied LPG cylinder sizes have also seen slight reductions. Meanwhile, the price of autogas used in vehicles dropped from Tk 66.84 per liter to Tk 66.81 per liter.
The price of LPG provided by government-owned companies remains unchanged at 690 taka for a 12.5 kg cylinder. However, government-supplied LPG meets only around 1 to 1.5 percent of national demand, with limited availability for the general public.
According to the new rates, LPG is priced at Tk 121.25 per kg, slightly down from last month’s rate of Tk 121.32. This marginal price drop applies to cylinder sizes ranging from 5.5 kg to 45 kg. The rate for LPG supplied in both liquid and gaseous forms via reticulated systems to households has also been adjusted proportionally.
LPG in Bangladesh is a blend of propane and butane, both imported based on the Saudi Aramco Contract Price (Saudi CP). BERC sets the monthly price by considering factors such as the US dollar exchange rate, which impacts import costs. Despite BERC’s price caps, consumers have long complained that sellers frequently charge above the regulated price. BERC has indicated that punitive measures will be taken if specific complaints are received, and some companies have already faced action for price violations.
The one-taka reduction has drawn criticism from consumers and dealers, who see the decision as trivial. Many dealers and customers argue that BERC’s set prices are not implemented effectively in the market, with dealers selling LPG at their own rates. According to some, this minor reduction will not make any real difference to consumers.
