The government has moved to introduce subsidized LPG cylinders for low-income rural households amid an ongoing shortage of cooking fuel, with the Ministry of Commerce seeking an urgent action plan from relevant authorities.
The program, approved by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is expected to be implemented through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB)’s dealer network.
The government aims to expand access to cleaner cooking fuel among rural households that still rely heavily on firewood, straw and kerosene.
Officials, however, have raised concerns over identifying eligible households, the ability of TCB dealers to safely handle LPG cylinders and the absence of a specific implementation deadline.
Energy experts also warned that subsidies alone cannot resolve the country’s wider LPG supply shortage.
