UNB, Sylhet: Another 50,000 gas consumers in Sylhet will soon receive prepaid gas meters, bringing the total number of customers under the system to 100,000.
In stages, 220,000 customers of Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited (JGTDSL) are expected to be brought under the prepaid metering system.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during a public hearing organised by JGTDSL at its office in Mendibagh.
The event aimed to improve service quality, ensure transparency and strengthen accountability, with JGTDSL Managing Director Md Atiqur Rahman in the chair.
Representatives from Petrobangla, including Engineer Bishwajit Saha, General Manager (Planning, Strategy and Resource Mobilisation), and Deputy General Manager (Vigilance) M Nasimul Alim, attended as guests.
During the hearing, it was reported that a residential consumer currently uses an average of 66 cubic metres of gas per month. With a prepaid meter, the maximum usage per customer will be limited to 35 cubic metres, resulting in an automatic saving of 31 cubic metres and lower monthly bills.
Atiqur Rahman said public hearings are an effective means of gathering citizens’ feedback on government activities.
“They increase accountability, prevent corruption and build trust between citizens and the government. Public hearings are a key step towards making offices more citizen-friendly and efficient. Jalalabad Gas regularly organises these hearings to listen directly to its customers,” he said.
Emphasising the need to reduce the misuse of gas, the JGTDSL chief noted that gas is not only a fuel but also a vital source of energy for households, cooking and industrial production.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to use it safely and efficiently. Wasting or stealing gas harms not only the government but every citizen. Every unit wasted denies another family their rightful share,” he added, urging customers to report leaks or irregularities promptly.
He said the goal is to make Jalalabad Gas a people-friendly organisation where complaints are addressed swiftly and every customer feels valued.
Moderated by Assistant Engineer Fahim Ahmed, the hearing was attended by JGTDSL engineers, managers, the company secretary, leaders of the district press club, and the president of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association, Amiruzzaman Chowdhury, among others.
