The work started on January 5 and is scheduled to be completed by June.

But sources in Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) which is laying the pipeline said they would be able to complete the project much ahead of the scheduled date.

Housewife Shakhaia Sultana is very happy, expecting gas connection to the kitchen soon. But she is worried whether pipeline gas would be costlier than LPG cylinders she uses now.

Now she spends about Tk 500 a month on LPG.

Her husband ABM Abu Haider, Lecturer of Geography Department at Government Shah Sultan College, said he is ready to spend the same amount for pipeline gas supply.

Many people including government officials this correspondent talked to said the monthly bill should be not more than Tk 500 for a double burner.

Most of the political leaders in the district including those of BNP said, the bill should be around Tk 400 for single burner and Tk 500 for double burner and connection charge should not exceed Tk 3000.

The government is yet to fix the tariff. The Bogra town gas supply project will cost Tk 184 crore.

Bogra district BNP Secretary Fazlul Bari Thalukder Balal said he is happy over gas supply in the town because this will fulfill an election pledge of his party to the people of Bogra.

He said monthly billing and connection charge for domestic and commercial lines should be matching with those in other district towns and cities.

He suggested that prepaid meter system should be introduced to avoid misuse of gas.

Some senior officials of public and private sector banks said they are expecting at least Tk 200 crore investments on gas-based industries in Bogra town and adjoining areas within two and a half years after completion of the project.

Senior Assistant Vice President and Seals and Service Manager Towfique NK Lodi of Eastern Bank Limited (EBL) said, a group of companies including Mostafa Group has purchased land beside the Bogra-Dhaka highway to set up industries.

Some industrialists including Amjad Hosain Tajma, Managing Director of Tajma Ceramic, has already submitted a Project Proposal (PP) to bank for financial support.

Bogra Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Fazlur Rahman Paiker said owner of the some closed industries including those ran earlier on furnace oil will start production again by December this year.

He said he will start his furnace oil-based industry --North Bengal Auto Bricks--soon if gas is supplied. "I am also thinking about a Compact Natural Gas (CNG) filling station".

Some other companies are preparing project papers for setting up fertiliser factory, dying industry, leather complex and other gas-based industries.