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🇧🇩 Bangladesh /Energy & Infrastructure

Low gas pressure cripples Narayanganj CNG stations, drivers' earnings suffer

From Daily Star · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Thirty CNG filling stations in Narayanganj have ceased operations due to critically low pipeline pressure, severely impacting drivers' earnings.
  • Only three of the district's 33 stations can currently supply gas, leading to extensive queues and hours-long waits for vehicles.
  • Station officials report insufficient pressure to operate machinery, with no prior notice given about the supply disruptions.

Low gas pressure has crippled supply across Narayanganj district, forcing 30 out of 33 compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations to stop operations. This shortage has led to long queues of vehicles at the few stations still functioning and significantly cut into drivers' daily earnings.

I haven’t been able to start work since morning. It has been like this for the past few days. If I can get gas normally, I can earn Tk 1,000-1,200 a day. After paying the vehicle owner, I still have something left. But today, I’m just hoping I can get gas.

— Md SalauddinA CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver describes the impact of the gas shortage on his daily income.

Drivers report grappling with the gas shortage for several days, as insufficient supply reaches the stations through the distribution network. Many have to visit multiple stations and wait for hours to refuel, impacting their ability to earn a living. Md Salauddin, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver operating on the Dhaka-Narayanganj route, stated he had been waiting since 7:00 AM and had not yet been able to start work. He explained that normally he could earn Tk 1,000-1,200 daily, but the current situation left him just hoping to get gas.

We need at least 15 PSI of pressure in the gas line to operate the machines. Now, there isn’t even 1 PSI.

— Kazi Rakibul IslamAn official at Mas CNG Workers Ltd explains the severity of the low gas pressure.

Officials at the affected stations confirm the severe pressure issues. Kazi Rakibul Islam, an official at Mas CNG Workers Ltd, said they need at least 15 PSI of pressure to operate, but currently have less than 1 PSI. He noted that gas supply was completely suspended for at least five hours the previous night and pressure dropped again by noon. Importantly, no prior notice was given by the government or relevant authorities regarding the disruption.

The government should resolve the gas problem quickly. It is also causing traffic congestion on the roads. We have to sit for hours, which creates problems for everyone.

— Md Dulal HossainA car driver expresses frustration with the gas shortage and its impact on traffic and daily life.

At Sahabuddin CNG Filling Station, car driver Md Dulal Hossain reported waiting at least four hours. He urged the government to resolve the gas problem quickly, noting it also causes traffic congestion. Mohammad Nazmul Huda, an official at the station, added that low pressure has persisted for two days. He also mentioned that vehicles from Dhaka are coming to Narayanganj due to a gas shortage in the capital, further straining their limited supply and increasing wait times for drivers hoping for better pressure.

As there is also a gas shortage in Dhaka, vehicles from the capital are coming to Narayanganj, further increasing the pressure on our stations.

— Mohammad Nazmul HudaAn official at Sahabuddin CNG Filling Station explains how the shortage in Dhaka exacerbates the problem in Narayanganj.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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