LPG dealers have announced a nationwide shutdown of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shops on October 15 and 16, demanding an end to harassment by law enforcement agencies, a review of commission rates and the return of unused gas cylinders to the market.

Selim Khan, president of the LPG Gas Business Cooperative Association, announced the programme at a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday (October 12).

He said LPG sales would be suspended indefinitely across the country if their demands were not met after the two-day shutdown.

Khan said only six to seven companies were currently active in the market, leaving several hundred thousand gas cylinders unused across the country.

He urged the government or LPG companies to arrange for the unused cylinders to be refilled and supplied to the market through dealers so that consumers could buy gas at fair prices.

The dealers are also demanding that companies refrain from changing LPG prices independently after the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announces the monthly rates. Any subsequent price adjustments, they said, should be made through the regulatory body.

The association has also called for measures to bring thousands of unused LPG cylinders back into operation. It alleged that many companies had ceased operations, while others were unable to open letters of credit (LCs) to import LPG.

Meanwhile, the dealers accused the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and executive magistrates of imposing unjustified fines and harassing businesses.

At the press conference, Selim Khan said the BERC chairman had contacted him while the event was underway. The chairman told him that the commission was reviewing the dealers’ demands and would take the necessary steps soon.