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“Customers know prices have gone up by Tk 300, but they don’t understand why -- it’s creating tension.”

Sales have dropped as many are switching to electric or wood-fired stoves, he said.

Operating under official pricing has become nearly impossible, said a trader in Kochukhet, who bought cylinders from dealers at around Tk 1,850.

“In this area, many customers are from law enforcement or administration, so charging higher prices is difficult. Honestly, I feel like shutting down for a few days just to avoid the constant pressure,” he said.

Retailers in Mirpur’s Kafrul area echoed similar concerns.

The official rate does not reflect actual costs, said Nurun Nabi, manager of a dealership.

“On paper, we are supposed to sell at Tk 1,633 or Tk 1,728 depending on the batch. But in reality, we procure at around Tk 1,775. With transport costs of about Tk 30 per cylinder and operational expenses, selling at the fixed rate is not viable.”

He insisted there is no shortage in supply.

“Gas is available in abundance. Any quantity can be supplied. The issue is pricing, not availability,” he added.

Across outlets, prices differed by brand: Jamuna cylinders were selling at around Tk 1,900; Fresh, Omera and Bashundhara at Tk 2,000; and Beximco as high as Tk 2,100.

The private operators have imported about 1.86 lakh tonnes of LPG to supply in April while the monthly demand is around 1.5 lakh tonnes, according to data from the National Board of Revenue.

For low-income families, the price surge is forcing a shift back to traditional fuels.

Aklima Begum, a resident of the Korail slum in Banani, said her five-member family now relies more on wood-fired cooking.

“We use LPG only when we need to cook quickly in the morning. The rest of the time, we use a clay stove,” she said.

A cylinder lasts the household about two months, while wood costs about Tk 800 per month.

“Earlier, we bought a cylinder for Tk 1,680. If it goes to Tk 2,000, we simply cannot afford regular use. We are already struggling to manage expenses with a monthly income of Tk 18,000 to Tk 20,000.”

Increased reliance on firewood has its own costs: it takes more time, produces smoke and causes eye irritation.

“But what choice do we have?” she said.

Firewood is currently selling at around Tk 20-25 per kg in local markets.

The impact is also severe on small businesses dependent on LPG.

Fuel costs are eating into already thin margins, said Dulal Hossain, who runs a tea stall in Mirpur-13.

He sells tea for Tk 5 to Tk 8. If gas prices go up, he has to raise prices to Tk 10 to Tk 12.

“Customers won’t accept it,” he said.

A cylinder lasts him less than a week despite operating 12 hours a day.

“With Tk 300 extra per cylinder, it’s becoming difficult to survive,” he added.

At a roadside eatery in Bhasantek, the owner said monthly fuel costs have surged beyond staff wages.

The eatery’s monthly losses due to higher fuel costs exceed Tk 20,000. Daily fuel expenses are around Tk 3,000, which is more than the staff salaries.

But raising food prices is not an option.

“If we increase prices, customers leave. But without increasing, we incur losses,” he said.

The latest price hike by BERC raised the cost of a 12kg cylinder by Tk 387 to Tk 1,728, one of the steepest increases since the regulator began monthly adjustments in April 2021.

The hike followed a nearly 45 percent surge in global LPG benchmark prices, along with higher freight and shipment costs linked to disruptions amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.

However, industry players argue that the regulator’s pricing does not reflect actual import costs.

Import premiums, estimated by BERC at $120 per tonne, have surged to between $300 and $350, according to operators.

Before the prices were set last week, some operators placed a note of dissent saying that the prices do not reflect the actual cost of import.

Following it, the BERC held another meeting with the operators.

BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed yesterday told The Daily Star that the regulator does not consider forward-looking freight costs while setting LPG prices, citing a lack of verifiable data from traders.

“We do not fix prices based on projected freight costs. Traders claim they are unable to book new cargo due to higher freight charges, but without concrete documents, we cannot take a forward-looking approach.”

He also questioned the credibility of the cost data submitted by operators with the note of dissent.

“They claimed freight costs of around $350, but the documents showed about $150, which was later manually altered. Without clear and reliable information, it is very difficult to make decisions.”

The regulator is open to revisiting prices more frequently if justified by evidence.

“We have told traders that prices can be reviewed every 10 days if needed. If actual cargo arrives and verified freight costs -- say $150 -- are established, adjustments can be made within five days.”

No final decision has been taken yet, he said, adding that the issue will be discussed again early next week.

If the war situation eases, freight costs may also decline.

Adherence to the BERC’s fixed price is mandatory, and the regulator will seek stronger monitoring through district administrations, Ahmed added.

In a statement yesterday, LPG Operators’ Association of Bangladesh acknowledged reports that LPG is being sold at prices above the government-fixed rates in various parts of the country.

It said bottling companies are supplying cylinders at regulated rates and urged distributors and retailers to comply.

The Department of National Consumer Rights Protection and deputy commissioners have already been instructed to take action against irregularities, according to the statement.