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Nobin, a retailer in Rajshahi’s court station area, was able to get LPG bottles from his wholesaler for Tk 1,550. He is selling those for Tk 1,620 -- Tk 400 more than the government-fixed retail price.

The importers and distributors blamed the higher price on the middlemen as well as an incompatible price method of BERC.

“There was a supply chain disruption as we were unable to open letters of credit and the middlemen exploited the situation,” said Jakaria Jalal, head of division at Basundhara LP Gas, the market leader.

But, it is not possible to sell LPG at the rate fixed by BERC.

“There were lots of problems in the pricing process of BERC. They told us that they will hold a fresh public hearing to form a new formula, but they have not.”

In the meantime, the price of LPG increased in the global market in February.

“We have to spend at least Tk 250 more on a cylinder than in January,” Jalal added.

Contacted, BERC member (Petroleum) Md Kamruzzaman acknowledged receiving complaints last month of higher prices than the rate fixed.

“We will check and take necessary measures,” he said, adding that they will announce the LPG price for February soon.

BERC started pricing LPG in August 2020.

The market for LPG boomed after the government in 2020 decided not to provide fresh gas connections to households.

Bangladesh’s annual LPG consumption is about 14.28 lakh metric tonnes, with households accounting for about 84 percent of the consumption.

Around 99 percent of the market is dominated by 29 private companies.