Bangladesh CNG shortage cripples transport and household cooking

A fire on 21 July at a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) in Cox's Bazar damaged a boiler and forced the plant to shut down. The incident cut Bangladesh's daily CNG supply from an average of 2,700 MMCFD to below 2,150 MMCFD, far short of the roughly 3,800 MMCFD demand.

With less gas available, many CNG‑powered auto‑rickshaws and other public‑transport vehicles in Dhaka have been forced off the road. Drivers report long queues at fuel stations, passengers waiting hours, and fares rising to double or triple contract rates. A commuter told reporters, “Other days I could easily get CNG, but today after waiting over an hour I didn’t get any vehicle.”

Households also feel the pinch: gas pressure in many neighborhoods is near zero, prompting families to resort to temporary mud stoves, wood, or costly electric cookers and LPG cylinders, raising daily expenses for low‑income residents.