Gas crisis grips Dhaka: Middle-class families bear the brunt

The severe gas shortage has disrupted daily life across the country, with many households in the capital Dhaka unable to cook due to a lack of supply.

The crisis has left thousands of residents, particularly middle-class families, struggling to manage their everyday foods.

Residents in several parts of Dhaka, including Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Kalabagan, Kathalbagan, Mirpur, Badda, Rampura, Basabo, Jatrabari and Old Dhaka, said they have been facing acute gas shortages for the past few days. Many complained that gas remains unavailable throughout the day and returns only at night for a few hours, often with extremely low pressure, making cooking nearly impossible. 

With no reliable gas supply, many families have been forced to rely on alternative cooking methods such as electric stoves, induction cookers and LPG cylinders. Some residents said they are staying awake late at night to cook meals for the following day when gas pressure improves slightly.

''I do not get gas from morning until night. Even when it comes at night, the pressure is too low to cook properly. I had to buy an electric stove,” said Nazmun Nahar, a resident of Mohammadpur.

Mohammad Tuhin, a bachelor living in Old Dhaka, said he has stopped cooking at home due to the crisis. ''Earlier, a domestic helper would come during the day and prepare meals. Now there is no gas throughout the day, and she does not come at night. Cooking at home has completely stopped, so I am forced to eat at restaurants,” he said.

A resident of Mirpur, Shamsun Nahar, said gas usually arrives after 9PM, but the pressure remains too low. “It takes almost an hour just to cook rice. This is not a practical situation. I had to buy an LPG cylinder, but its price is very high,” she said

Kathalbagan resident Mariyam Akter said the crisis has become particularly difficult for families with young children. ''Children need food on time, but it is impossible to prepare meals using the current gas supply. The situation has become so severe that we have been forced to find alternatives,'' she said.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit expressed regret over the ongoing gas shortage. Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Monday, he said households, especially women, managing daily cooking responsibilities, were facing significant difficulties.

''Industries are experiencing reduced production, and public transport is also under pressure due to gas shortages at CNG stations. We apologise for the inconvenience,'' the state minister said.  

He admitted that the government could not provide an immediate solution to the crisis. ''This is our limitation at the moment. However, our teams are working on it. We hope the situation will improve from next week,'' he added.