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Residents of Dhamrai blocked the Dhaka-Aricha Highway for nearly three hours on Monday, demanding an adequate residential gas supply.
The blockade was lifted around noon after local authorities assured them of action.
The protest began around 9:30am in the Kalampur area, triggering long tailbacks on both sides of the highway and causing widespread disruption to commuters.
Protesters alleged that Titas Gas customers in several areas, including Goaldi, Batulia, Mohishashi, Kawalipara and Saturia, have been suffering from an inadequate gas supply for nearly two years.
They said low gas pressure has left household stoves unusable for much of the time, forcing residents to rely on LPG cylinders and other alternative fuels despite paying regular gas bills.
In a written complaint, residents blamed the shortage on low pressure from the local District Regulating Station (DRS) and alleged that a rerolling mill and a ceramic factory were illegally using gas boosters to draw excessive gas. The allegations could not be independently verified.
The protesters demanded uninterrupted gas supply, waiver of bills for the period without service and installation of gas meters for usage-based billing.
Dhamrai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Al Mamun later assured the protesters that the matter would be taken up with the gas authorities, prompting them to withdraw the blockade around 12pm.
