Chattogram Faces Severe Gas Crisis, Long CNG Queues

A severe gas crisis has hit Chattogram city also forcing many families to buy food from outside due to gas shortages at home. Industries, captive power plants and CNG stations are also affected.

Monday Morning long queues of gas-run vehicles formed at Four Star CNG in Kadamtali, Karnaphuli Filling Station in Baklia, Shah Amanat Natural Gas Company in Moizzartek and Kamal Brothers CNG station.

Officials of Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) said the crisis began after a fire at Accelerate Energy's floating LNG terminal in Maheshkhali on July 21 which cut gas supply to the national grid. Gas pressure has since dropped sharply across the city, hitting residential customers hardest.

Jamalkhan resident Rita Rani said gas has been unavailable since morning for several days, with pressure remaining low even at night. Askar resident Kamrunnahar Chowdhury said she has resorted to cylinder gas despite safety concerns as cooking has become nearly impossible. Similar complaints came from residents of Agrabad, Halishahar, Patenga, Chandgaon, Panchlaish, Muradpur, Baklia, Chawkbazar, Bahaddarhat, Oxygen and Sholashar.

The reduced supply has also forced cuts to industrial and captive power gas allocations, directly impacting CNG stations. Drivers now wait hours for fuel. Mohammad Minhajul Islam, a CNG driver on Chattogram-Badrakhali Road, said he waited nearly two hours near Shah Amanat Natural Gas Company, compared to just 10–20 minutes earlier. Gas sales stop at 6pm, adding to drivers' uncertainty.

KGDCL Deputy General Manager Rafiq Khan said the crisis has persisted for 10 days but worsened over the holidays due to a widening demand-supply gap. He said gas pressure has abnormally dropped citywide since Saturday night and authorities are working round-the-clock to restore normal supply.