Govt orders nationwide crackdown on oil and LPG price hikes

The Ministry of Commerce has initiated a coordinated nationwide enforcement campaign to combat the overpricing of edible oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders across Bangladesh. In a series of urgent directives issued on Tuesday, the ministry mobilised the Directorate of National Consumers’ Rights Protection (DNCRP) and all deputy commissioners to launch immediate market drives and initiate strict legal measures against traders flouting government-mandated rates.

Administrative officials have received a clear mandate to restore market discipline as essential commodities continue to be traded at inflated rates despite established price ceilings. The government noted that these interventions are necessary to protect consumer interests and curb volatility in the retail sector. Memos regarding the crackdown were distributed to the highest levels of government and industry, signalling a policy shift toward zero tolerance for price manipulation during the current global energy crisis.

In response to the directives issued on 7 April, the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) released a statement through its president, Mohammad Amirul Haque. The association attempted to distance manufacturers from the current market instability, asserting that supply-side compliance remains intact while pointing toward volatility at the retail level. Mohammad Amirul Haque maintained that operators are consistently supplying cylinders at the official rates directly from their bottling plants.

The association argued that price discrepancies occur primarily after the product leaves the factory gates, leaving end-user consumers to face the brunt of inflated costs. Consequently, LOAB has issued a stern appeal to intermediaries, including distributors and retailers, to adhere strictly to the regulated pricing. Framing the issue as a matter of moral and social responsibility, the association stated that industry-wide compliance is essential to mitigate public suffering.

The government’s proactive stance aims to ensure total administrative synchronisation between local law enforcement and trade regulators. By targeting the entire supply chain, the Ministry of Commerce intends to eliminate the gap between factory-gate prices and the costs paid by the general public in various local markets. These enforcement drives are expected to continue until price stability is achieved in line with national energy and food policy guidelines.