Residents of Brahmanbaria, home to Bangladesh’s largest gas field, took to the streets on Sunday to protest chronic fuel shortages. Despite the district’s massive contribution to the national grid, locals claim they face hours of gas outages daily.
The protest began at 10:00 AM at the Kautali bus stand, drawing a diverse crowd of homemakers, students, and business owners. Demonstrators carrying placards decried the irony of living atop the nation’s primary energy source while struggling to cook basic meals.
“It is a violation of our rights to pay bills and still remain without gas,” speakers at the rally noted. Leaders from the district BNP and various social organizations joined the sit-in, demanding immediate government intervention.
The demonstration caused significant disruption until senior officials intervened. Additional Deputy Commissioner Ranjan Dey and Sub-district Executive Officer (UNO) Sifat Md. Ishtiaque Bhuiyan arrived at the scene, promising a swift resolution to the supply crisis. Following these assurances, the protesters cleared the road.
The crisis has severely impacted local livelihoods. Homemakers reported being unable to feed their children on time, while restaurant owners warned of business closures due to the high cost of LPG cylinders.
Brahmanbaria’s Titas gas field operates 27 active wells, supplying nearly 30% of the country’s total gas demand. However, local residents continue to suffer due to poor distribution infrastructure and supply deficits.