Rajshahi Correspondent:
Vehicle drivers have been suffering since the day after Eid due to the lack of fuel supply at filling stations. Filling stations in Rajshahi have been closed. As a result, thousands of customers are returning after expressing anger after going to buy oil. The suffering of customers due to the oil crisis is at an extreme level.
People related to filling stations say that half of the petrol is being received from the depot against the demand. The supply of octane is stopped. However, 60 to 70 percent of people are getting diesel against the demand. They are hearing abuse from customers for not being able to supply fuel. That is why most of the stations have been closed.
There are 44 filling stations in Rajshahi. More than half of them are closed. The rest also have almost no fuel. As a result, vehicle drivers are returning without getting fuel.
Bakhtiar Shahriar, who went to get oil, said, “I visited 20 pumps in the district and the metropolis from Monday morning to afternoon. I went to a few pumps since Tuesday morning. I did not get oil anywhere. Most of the pumps in the district have been closed since Eid. The pump I go to says there is no oil. Some of these pumps are not selling oil even though they have it. Those who are bringing it from the depot are hoarding it instead of selling it.’
Anisur Rahman Shimul, general secretary of the Rajshahi District Petrol Pump Owners’ Association, said, ‘What was in stock at the pumps has run out before Eid. Due to this, there is no petrol and octane at any pump until the third day of Eid. Especially motorcyclists are crowding the pumps. Most of the pumps have been closed with notices saying there is no oil and ropes have been pulled.
He also said, ‘Our lorry has gone to the Baghabari depot. The lorry has a capacity of 13,500 liters of oil. But only 3,000 liters have been received. We have asked the distributors to provide sufficient oil. If it is available, it will be sold on Tuesday. Only diesel is being provided from the depot. Petrol and octane are not available.’
Demanding the deployment of the army at the pumps, he said, ‘If oil sales start, there may be chaos among customers. The police will not work. “That’s why we have asked the District Administrator to deploy the army at the pumps. Otherwise, it will not be possible to sell oil.”