Coronavirus crisisTitas, Karnaphuli Gas increase emergency balance for domestic users 

NEWS DESK 

Two out of the six gas distribution companies of Bangladesh have increased the emergency balance for the domestic prepaid meters during the nationwide shutdown of most services. 

The companies are Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited – which supplies gas in Dhaka and Mymensingh – and Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd – the gas supplier in Chattogram. 

Prepaid consumers usually receive Tk200 as emergency balance for each meter.

However, the amount has been expanded to up to Tk2,000 for Titas customers while Karnaphuli increased the amount to Tk1,000. 

If the situation improves within a short time, the gas distributing companies will adjust the amount in the next few months, said senior officials of both companies. 

"We took the decision to supply uninterrupted gas to the consumers during this holiday. The money will be adjusted in next months' bills if the situation gets better soon," said Ali Mohd Al-Mamun, managing director of Titas Gas. 

The other four gas distribution companies did not increase the amount as they do not have prepaid domestic consumers in their distribution system. 

Titas Gas is the largest gas distribution company in the country with 28.65 lakh subscribers, of which around 1.5 lakh are pre-paid domestic subscribers. 

On the other hand, Karnaphuli Gas has 60,000 prepaid customers out of 5.12 lakh subscribers.