Prices of LP gas shoot up due to shortage of supply
Monday, 13 August 2007
BARISAL, Aug 12 (UNB): Prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders have increased by 25 per cent to 30 per cent within a month in the city markets.
Dealers blamed shortage of supply and increase of transportation cost for the price hike.
At present per 12.5 kilogram cylinder of LP gas of Basundhara is being sold at Tk 890.00, Klinhit at Tk 920.00 and Jamuna at Tk 880.00, which was sold in last month at Tk 700.00, Tk 725.00 and Tk 715.00 respectively.
Deputy Commissioner of the district Manjur-e-Elahi said it was decided at a recent meeting with local dealers and retailers of LP gas to sell per cylinder at 10 per cent to 15 per cent higher than the factory price considering the increase of transportation cost but now they are violating the decision.
He also said legal action would be taken against the unscrupulous dealers and retailers for violating the agreement.
On the other hand, the dealers and retailers of the city claimed that supply of LP gas cylinder was less than 50 per cent of the market demand and they have to collect it from different sources at exorbitant prices.
For this reason they said they have no alternative but to sell it at higher prices than the government fixed rates.
Barisal district coordinator of Consumers Association of Bangladesh Ranjit Dutta said: "It is illogical to take more than 50 per cent extra money than the factory price for per cylinder of LPG."
He apprehended that if strict measures were not taken immediately the price of per cylinder would exceed Tk 1,000.00 before the holy Ramadan.
Dealers blamed shortage of supply and increase of transportation cost for the price hike.
At present per 12.5 kilogram cylinder of LP gas of Basundhara is being sold at Tk 890.00, Klinhit at Tk 920.00 and Jamuna at Tk 880.00, which was sold in last month at Tk 700.00, Tk 725.00 and Tk 715.00 respectively.
Deputy Commissioner of the district Manjur-e-Elahi said it was decided at a recent meeting with local dealers and retailers of LP gas to sell per cylinder at 10 per cent to 15 per cent higher than the factory price considering the increase of transportation cost but now they are violating the decision.
He also said legal action would be taken against the unscrupulous dealers and retailers for violating the agreement.
On the other hand, the dealers and retailers of the city claimed that supply of LP gas cylinder was less than 50 per cent of the market demand and they have to collect it from different sources at exorbitant prices.
For this reason they said they have no alternative but to sell it at higher prices than the government fixed rates.
Barisal district coordinator of Consumers Association of Bangladesh Ranjit Dutta said: "It is illogical to take more than 50 per cent extra money than the factory price for per cylinder of LPG."
He apprehended that if strict measures were not taken immediately the price of per cylinder would exceed Tk 1,000.00 before the holy Ramadan.