Pipeline leak cuts gas supply to near zero in parts of Dhaka

Amid an ongoing shortage of household gas supply over the past couple of months, a leak in a pipeline under the Turag River has reduced supply to almost zero in parts of the capital.

Many households have shifted to induction cookers or bottled liquefied petroleum gas, but expressed frustration at having to pay for pipeline gas despite being unable to use it even for an hour.

Gas shortages persist in the area year-round but have worsened over the past week. There had been no gas at all until noon yesterday, even though it was a holiday.

Jahangir Hossain Babu  A resident of Bakshibazar Lane

Nur Jahan, a resident of the Indira Road area, said the gas crisis has persisted for several months.

“Until a few weeks ago, a small amount of gas used to be available after 10:00pm, which allowed us to cook. But since the severe winter set in around mid-December, there has been no gas at all,” she said.

Due to the shortage, she bought an induction cooker and used the gas stove only occasionally. “Now it is not used at all. We are paying the gas bill for nothing,” she added.

The Daily Star spoke to at least 10 residents in Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Indira Road, Agargaon, Mirpur, Banasree, Green Road and Puran Dhaka, and found a similar situation.

An Agargaon resident, Mohammed Ahsanul Kabir, shared a worse experience, saying he has been using LPG cylinders since November. He said he was able to use only two cylinders before prices increased without notice.

“I needed to buy a 12kg cylinder two days ago at Tk 2,200, which was supposed to be sold at Tk 1,306. I had to pay more than the government-fixed rate and also pay for pipeline gas,” he said. “The struggle has become a part of life for a long time,” he added.

Until a few weeks ago, a small amount of gas used to be available after 10:00pm, which allowed us to cook. But since the severe winter set in around mid-December, there has been no gas at all.

Nur Jahan A resident of Indira Road

Aminul Islam, a resident of Mirpur-2, said he is a kidney patient and cannot manage without hot water, making the gas shortage particularly distressing.

Jahangir Hossain Babu, a resident of Bakshibazar Lane, said gas shortages persist in the area year-round but have worsened over the past week. “There had been no gas at all until noon yesterday, even though it was a holiday,” he said.

“We need to spend at least three to four hours cooking,” he added.

The authorities have acknowledged the crisis, saying it may take a couple of days to ease the situation, although a significant improvement in supply is unlikely in the near term.

Contacted, Titas Gas Managing Director Shahnewaz Parvez said severe winter leads to hydrate formation inside gas pipelines. “It is somewhat like ice. As a result, gas pressure usually drops during winter,” he said.

“You also know that gas supply to residential areas has already been reduced compared to industrial and commercial users for months.”

He said the situation was further worsened by a leak in a pipeline under the Turag River. 

“A cargo trawler punctured the pipeline while dropping anchor four days ago. We do not have our own equipment to repair such damage under a river. So, we had to fix the leak by installing clamps with the help of divers from the Coast Guard and the Fire Service,” he said.

Shahnewaz Parvez admitted that the supply situation is extremely poor in some areas. He said the damaged pipeline supplies gas to key localities, including Mohammadpur, Lalmatia, Aminbazar and Dhanmondi, leaving residents there without gas.

He also said many households in those areas have complained that water is entering their pipelines. 

“After we remove the water from individual connections, gas supply resumes. That is why it may take another two to three days for the situation to improve,” he said.

In addition, he said a maintenance operation was recently carried out in the Uttara area.

“Taken altogether, the overall situation has become very bad,” he added.