<p>In an interview with the FE, the chairman of LPG Association of Bangladesh (LAOB) Azam J Chowdhury said this while speaking on scenario of LPG, a green and clean hydrocarbon fuel industry.<br><br>The industry is seeing continuous surge as a significant number of semi-urban and rural households in Bangladesh are usingLPG cylinders to avoid troublesome traditional cooking amid depleting natural gas reserve and rapid urbanization.<br><br>LOAB chairman Mr. Chowdhury said the government has given a good policy support for which the sector started thriving since 2017.<br><br>“But there should be a stringent policyfor ensuring our safety, health and keeping the environment pollution-free. Enforcement actions should be taken against wrong doers,” said Mr. Chowdhury, alsothe chairman of East Coast Group.<br><br>He said cross filling, improvised infrastructure, trading in unauthorised cylinders sale and exchanges are threatening the healthy growth of the business.<br><br>Presently, more than 25 LPG companies are operating in Bangladesh and few more are in the offing.<br><br>The LOAB chairman Mr. Chowdhury said the country’s market cannot support 25 LPG operators andit would be difficult for them to survive due to stiff competition.<br><br>“It is certainly over-crowded. It was not prudent to issue so many licenses,” said Mr. Chowdhury.<br><br>He laid emphasis on prudence in issuing licenses as the closure of business is likely to create non-performing loans and loss of capital by sponsors.<br><br>“So many licenses are being issued without having a deep look in the market and it’s potential,” said Mr. Chowdhury, also the president of Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies (BAPLC).<br><br>According to him, all LPG import terminals are located in the river-based terminals and the draft does not allow import of larger size cargos in these terminals, thus import cost of product has to be based on LPG carriers which is expensive.<br><br>“We don’t have a deep sea terminal that can receive refrigerated cargos reducing prices and cost on inventory.”<br><br>While speaking on fiscal support from the government, the LAOB chairman said the LPG industry fortunately has grown up without subsidy.</p>