Tanor (Rajshahi) Correspondent:
A long line of motorcycles to get fuel at the Zara filling station in Tanor municipal area of Rajshahi caused a terrible traffic jam throughout the day. There were no rules and regulations in the sale of fuel. Ambulances carrying patients, passenger buses and autovans carrying agricultural products were stuck due to the arbitrary parking of motorcycles. This caused extreme suffering to the public. In addition, there are frequent complaints that the administration and those concerned are playing the role of silent spectators to avoid chaos in the distribution of fuel.
It is learned that petrol will be supplied at the Zara filling station located north of Kashir Bazar in Tanor municipal area from Monday morning. On hearing this news, motorcycle drivers lined up since night. There was a long line from the filling station to the Geol Chandpur intersection. As the day progressed, the motorcycle drivers started causing chaos due to not getting fuel. They blocked all the vehicles. A terrible traffic jam began. The traffic jam stretched for several kilometers from Geol intersection to Kashim Bazar.
Autovan drivers Kamal and Saiful, who carry agricultural products, said that they will take sacks of potatoes to the cold storage in the morning. But due to the distribution of oil, no vehicle can move. They will not leave the road until they get oil. We are stuck on the road from 8 am to 1 pm. We do not know when we will be able to leave. If we cannot pay the rent, our family will not be able to continue. We cannot pay the installments. We are in great trouble. We cannot say anything. And this is the main road. There was a long line of motorcycles on the east side of the road. But suddenly, more than a hundred motorcycles crowded in front of the filling station to get oil and became excited. Due to which there was an extreme traffic jam.
Local residents Gaffar and Ali Hossain and many others said that they had given oil before. But there was no traffic jam like today. Due to the road being blocked, motorcycles, autorickshaws, autovans, and pickups started plying through the village. Cars could not pass through the narrow road of the village. This had not happened before. There was a traffic jam on the village road. Suddenly, women and children panicked after seeing so many cars.
Eyewitnesses said that there was a line of motorcycles on the east side of the road north of the filling station. The line started after 12 midnight. Oil was supplied from the morning. Many motorcycles came to get oil even after they were filled with oil. Again, they lined up with petrol machines to get diesel. But no one was given oil. There was commotion and jostling every minute. A situation like the one who has the most power has been created. Tag officers and the police administration were deployed to distribute oil properly. But they could not do anything. If they had played their role properly, there would not have been traffic jams. They are supplying oil for 10 minutes and then being closed for 20 minutes.
The public demands that there are four filling stations in the upazila. If all four start supplying oil together, there will not be so much trouble. They should start supplying oil together and stop supplying oil together. And it is necessary to supply oil after seeing the identity card. Because many motorcycles are selling oil for 300 to 350 taka per liter. The government says there is no shortage of oil. And the pump owners say there is no supply of oil.
The pumps have been closed for a few days again. Hundreds of retail shops and motorcycle garages have been closed due to lack of oil supply. They are living an extremely inhuman life. However, there have been allegations that the filling station is syndicating after receiving the oil. But the filling station is reluctant to accept this.
The pump authorities say that the oil supply is not sufficient. If there is sufficient oil supply, there is no problem in providing oil. Again, when it is available, there is a lot of trouble during distribution. The administration is also unable to do anything about it.
Tag officers say that this is a global problem. Everyone should understand this and buy oil patiently. If everyone wants to buy oil first, then there will be chaos. Everyone should be aware. Because this problem is not permanent, not temporary. Out of fear, everyone has started doing such things.