Santhia people facing severe gas shortage

SANTHIA, PABNA, Jan 12: Residents of Santhia Municipality in Pabna are facing severe hardship as gas supply through pipelines is being cut off every night at 9 pm. 

The disruption, under the jurisdiction of the Pashchimanchal Gas Company Limited (PGCL) has persisted for months, leaving hundreds of families struggling to cook and carry out daily chores.

For nearly four to five months, locals say, gas supply has been disappearing after 9 pm and remains unavailable until dawn.

The same problem has been reported in neighbouring Bera Municipality. The timing has proved particularly disruptive, as evening is when households need gas most for cooking. Many families have been forced to rely on alternatives such as firewood, coal, or LPG cylinders-options that are both costly and risky. Some residents even resort to buying food from hotels due to the inability to cook at home.

According to PGCL's Baghabari regional office, Santhia currently has 617 residential and 8 commercial customers while Bera has 1,350 residential and 2 commercial customers. Officials said, consumers in these areas are using 90 to 120 cubic metres of gas per month, far exceeding the allocated 60 cubic metres, leading to wastage.

Locals, however, remain frustrated. They point out that gas supply is normal during the day and in surrounding areas, but inexplicably cut off in Santhia at night. Despite repeated complaints, no effective measures have been taken to resolve the crisis.

The shortage has affected not only homemakers but also hotel owners, students, and working people. Many students who used to cook their own meals in the evenings are now dependent on hotels or outside food. Small hotels, tea stalls, and eateries are incurring daily losses as they cannot operate after dark without gas.

Masuda Khatun, a resident of Santhia bazar, said, "We can cook properly during the day, but after evening the gas pressure drops. At 9pm the stove goes out completely." Another homemaker, Rahela Khatun, added: "We are paying our bills regularly, but not getting gas. This problem never existed before, now it happens almost every day."

Shafiqul Islam Ripon, head teacher of Shalghar Government Primary School, stressed that PGCL must identify the root cause and ensure a long-term solution. "Otherwise, consumers will continue to suffer periodically," he warned.

PGCL's Baghabari Regional Office Manager Anwar Hossain Majumdar acknowledged the crisis, saying the country is facing an overall gas shortage. "To prevent wastage, supply has been cut off at night for about three months. Many households are cooking for multiple families on a single stove, while small businesses are using gas excessively for frying snacks like chanachur. This has led to overconsumption," he explained.

He added that awareness campaigns, including loudspeaker announcements, are being undertaken to encourage consumers to reduce usage.