Own Correspondent: Many people in Chittagong have been going from office to office for 10 years, depositing money to get gas connections. Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company (KGDCL) has taken demand notes from 22,000 candidates at various times for gas connection. but could not connect.
KGDCL has deposited around Tk 25 crore between 2013 and 2015 for new connections and increasing the number of stoves in residential buildings. These applicants who have deposited money are in trouble as the gas connection has been stopped by the government’s decision. Their question is: why can’t they get gas by depositing demand notes before the government makes a decision?
Depositors sometimes stage dharnas for KGDCL officials. But you don’t get a reply. Many officials do not want to talk to them about this. At some point, they avoided the matter by going to Petrobangla to get the answer.
A writ was filed in court on October 4, 2020, on behalf of the angry applicants. Chittagong Gas, Electricity, and Water Consumer Union President Alamgir Noor, General Secretary AKM Aliullah Haque, and Md. Nurul Alam filed a writ in the High Court. But the matter was not resolved.
Akbar Newaz, a resident of the Badurtala area of the city, built a 10-story building by sharing land with a developer. He applied to KGDCL in 2014 to get a gas connection to this building and deposited Rs. but did not get a connection. Akbar Nawaz told the media, “We have given demand notes money before the government announced the shutdown of gas connections to residents.” There can be no justification for not providing a gas connection. Meanwhile, the demand note money is not being returned.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Chittagong divisional president SM Najer Hossain told the media, “Cylinder gas was not as easy and affordable as it was supposed to be.” So customers are prioritizing getting pipeline gas. As Karnaphuli Company takes money for demand notes, they should provide a gas connection. If the connection is not provided for any reason, it is necessary to return the money along with the dividend.
However, the general manager of KGDCL, Shafiul Azam Khan, said, “Residential gas connections are closed by government decision.” The company has no hand in it. The case filed by the customers is ongoing. I will accept the decision as per the instructions given by the court. If a customer wants, he can take the money from the demand note.
