Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited discontinued gas supply to general hospital of Chattogram, putting around 200 patients in immense suffering.

KGDCL has taken the move over Tk 4 lakh due by the hospital authority.

Dr Asim Kumar Nath, supervisor of General Hospital, told The Daily Star that the gas supply was suspended around 5:00pm today abruptly.

"We requested them to wait for few days as we received funds to pay the gas bill. We have to maintain some procedure to forward the bill which delayed the payment", he said.

He added that the hospital authority wanted to pay Tk 2 lakh but KGDCL was insisting for the full amount.

"They did not pay heed to our request and snapped the connection all of a sudden", he said.

Ayesha Akhter, who brought her mother to the hospital, told The Daily Star over phone that her mother requires hot water as she was suffering from cold-related problems.

Khaij Ahmed Mojumdar, managing director of KGDCL, told The Daily Star they were conducting operations against due bill.

"I don't know whether gas supply was halted or not but I know for sure that the hospital authority has been negligent in paying the bill, which remained due for years," he said.

He said he was in Dhaka. Once back in Chattogram, he will ask his people about the matter.