Gas supply remained suspended in one-third area of port city for the third consecutive day yesterday, intensifying public distress and forcing many to buy food from restaurants.
A large number of people are also buying electric kitchen appliances and gas cylinders, prompting traders to allegedly hike up prices.
Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) published an announcement in local daily newspapers on Sunday about the supply suspension but the authorities did not mention when they will be able to resume the supply.
The gas supply was suspended after an excavator of Chattogram City Corporation mistakenly made a hole in the pipeline during digging work in Maitteli canal beside Akmal Ali Road on February 16 afternoon.
M Shakil Ahmed, a Customs official from Bashundhara residential area adjacent to Halishahar, told The Daily Star that it was difficult to manage food since Saturday due to shortage of gas in the area, adding that he had been compelled to buy gas cylinder and burner for cooking.
“I bought a gas cylinder which cost Tk 2,500; it was being sold at Tk 2,100 before the gas crisis,” he said.
Rafiqul Islam, gas cylinder and electric kitchen appliances trader at a shop adjacent to Enayet Bazar Mosque, admitted to charging extra, claiming that wholesalers had increased prices due to high demand.
Mohammad Sohel, a resident of Port Colony, said they were depending on food from restaurants for the past three days, adding that there were long queues and sometimes the eateries run out of food too.
Like Shakil and Sohel, residents of several other areas described similar ordeal to this newspaper.
Upon visiting some electronic shops, it was found that demand of electric ovens and rice cookers have increased.
