ছবি: সংগৃহীত ছবি
A sudden and prolonged disruption in the supply of LPG autogas has forced nearly all filling stations across the country to shut down, triggering major difficulties for transport users and placing heavy financial pressure on entrepreneurs and employees involved in the sector; industry representatives estimate that demand currently stands at around 140,000 tons of LPG per month, of which nearly 15,000 tons are used as autogas, yet with stations remaining closed for weeks, operators are struggling to cover salaries, bank loan installments, and operational overhead, pushing many towards bankruptcy risk; despite an increase in LPG imports compared to previous months, the market has experienced artificial scarcity that has inflated prices significantly—12-kilogram cylinders, officially priced at 1,306 taka, have reportedly been sold for 1,900 to 2,500 taka in some areas; business groups are urging authorities to normalize imports, ensure uninterrupted autogas supply, and take regulatory action against those creating artificial shortages; analysts warn that the crisis reflects not just business losses but affects an expanding alternative-energy transport ecosystem, potentially impacting urban mobility and broader economic activity; government statements claim sufficient stock and expanded imports, indicating no rational reason for reduced supply and reassuring that market manipulation will be addressed, though uncertainty persists until lasting structural solutions restore stability, price discipline, and predictable distribution across the sector.
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