Desk Report: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar has strongly protested the latest hike in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices, warning that the increase will put additional pressure on household budgets, particularly those of low- and middle-income families.

In a statement issued on Monday (November 2), Parwar expressed deep concern over the decision to raise the price of a 12-kg LPG cylinder by Tk 223 to Tk 2,060, saying the move would create fresh hardship for ordinary people already struggling with rising prices of essential commodities.

He said the latest increase, within just one month, would significantly raise household expenses at a time when people`s purchasing power was already under pressure.

The Jamaat leader observed that low- and middle-income families would find it increasingly difficult to manage the additional cost of cooking fuel.

Questioning the government`s failure to ensure fair pricing in the LPG market, Parwar said cylinders had long been sold at prices considerably higher than those fixed by the authorities.

He alleged that 12-kg LPG cylinders were being sold in Dhaka for Tk 2,200 to Tk 2,300, despite the officially announced price. However, effective market monitoring and accountability remained largely absent, he added.

He also criticised attempts by importers, distributors and retailers to justify additional costs by citing higher commissions, saying such arguments could not be used to impose an unreasonable financial burden on consumers.

"Raising prices cannot be the only responsibility of the authorities," he said, stressing that ordinary citizens should not be made to bear the consequences of mismanagement in the energy sector and failures in market regulation.

Parwar further said repeated increases in fuel prices without considering people`s purchasing capacity reflected a lack of government responsibility towards consumers.

He urged the government to immediately reconsider and withdraw the latest LPG price hike, ensure that cylinders were sold at officially fixed rates and take effective action against market syndicates and excessive profiteering.

He also called for regular market monitoring and stronger accountability mechanisms to protect consumer interests.

The latest controversy over LPG prices has renewed concerns about the rising cost of household energy and its impact on family budgets, particularly among economically vulnerable sections of society.