Long queues before the petrol pumps driven by panic buying has turned into a common phenomenon in Magura town suggesting a further aggravation of the fuel crisis in recent time. Meanwhile, Against the backdrop of the fuel crisis prevailing across the globe, all the 11 refuelling stations beside the Chandpur- Cumilla regional highway across Chandpur district ( right from Chandpur town up to Khajuria area in Kachua upazila, last point) have remained shut for the past 10/12 days.
Our Magura Correspondent reports: Consumers and traders in Magura town are blaming each other regarding the unstable situation over fuel supply.
Consumers said actually there is no genuine shortage of fuel in the district. Traders are selling fuel at hiked prices by creating an artificial crisis through illegal hoarding. On the contrary, traders said being impatient consumers are buying more fuel compared to their requirement and thus creating a unnatural scarcity.
Md Akash, a worker of local NGO Rova Foundation, said, "After attempt of three days, I failed to collect fuel from any petrol pump of Magura. I went to Jashore and was able to get five litres of petrol."
"If the petrol pumps in Jashore can give me fuel, why don't the petrol pumps in Magura have stock? he questioned.
Fazal Mahmud, a trader of College Para area in Magura town, said, "I stood in queues before a petrol pump for four days. Though pump workers told us to wait, after waiting for three to four hours every day I had to return empty handed without getting a drop of fuel."
"Fuel is being sold outside at high prices. They are collecting fuel from pump through back door. On the other hand, fuel users like us are badly deprived," he alleged.
Emdadul Hoque, a petrol pump owner in Magura town, said consumers are purchasing much more fuel compared to their needs and thus creating crisis.
Petrol pumps in the district are always under close observation of the police and magistrate. So there is no scope to sell fuel in black-market, he added.
He further said, "Impatience of consumers is also a reason behind this unrest over fuel. Recently, the government has taken an initiative to distribute fuel cards to control the situation. We welcome this move."
"Moreover, the government has decided to purchase 260,000 tonnes of fuel. Implementation of this decision will bring comfort for both pump owners and consumers," he said.
Abu Imam Md Baker, executive director of ISADSO, an NGO, said, "There were stocks of 19,700 litres of diesel, 12,500 litres of petrol and 6000 litres of octane in the district as of April 1. The stocks are not insufficient compared to demand. But why are we suffering in want of fuel?"
Mizanur Rahman, owner of Fatema Petrol Pump in Magura town said, "We are supplying fuel as much as we are getting. I feel supply of fuel is more smooth in Magura compared to many other districts as consumers from Jhenaidah and Chuadanga are collecting fuel from us. Moreover, petrol pumps in Sylhet have already been closed for an indefinite time. We are selling fuel according to our supply."
Mr Rahman said, "Earlier some unscrupulous people collected fuel from us in pot without bikes or vehicles and sold that outside pump at high price. Now we are avoiding the persons and providing fuel only to the bike or car drivers."
"Failing to run this illegal business, the unscrupulous people are now accusing us out of anger," he added.
Mr Rahman said the Shariatpur district administration has by this time introduced an app, under which every fuel consumer will make registration online. Through the app, every petrol pump will be able to know whether the individual has taken any fuel or not on the day and what is the amount. Thus the recipient will not be able to collect fuel two times a day.
He suggested opening this app in every district to control the fuel supply situation.
Magura Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Meherunnahar said, "We have deployed magistrate in every petrol pump to check any kind of irregularities over fuel selling. In the mean time, we have recovered stored fuel from many places and the campaign is going on."
Our Chandpur Correspondent says: The ongoing fuel crisis has literally plunged hundreds of vehicle operators into an awkward situation and unbound sufferings.
They can neither move without their vehicles nor can discharge their field duties, said some field officials of NGOs.
Only two refuelling stations are selling limited quantity of petrol-octane in Chandpur town while one each in Faridganj and Matlab Uttar upazilas is selling fuel oil on a limited scale and that is why the motorcycle users have been facing serious problems for the past 10/12 days.
Octane and diesel are sold in the rest of six filling stations across Chandpur district; but most of them are remaining shut on the plea of acute fuel oil crisis.
While visiting M/s Amir Hossain Khan & Co Fuel Station at Chandpur Bus Stand, Foysol Petrol Pump and Sharmin Filling Station on the town outskirts, it was seen that a good number of people with their motorbikes were waiting eagerly for hours together with faint hope of buying petrol or diesel.
The filling stations sold fuel oil for Tk 300 per litre to each of the bikers. It disappointed almost all.
Talking to the FE, Mehedi Hasan , Mosharraf Hossain, BRAC staffer Abu Ahmed, mobile phone operator Robi's employee Wasiuddin Mia, Ibrahim Patwary of Faridganj and Al Amin of Sujatpur area of Matlab Uttar upazila alleged that they had been suffering immensely for want of fuel.
They had been moving from pillar to post for fuel but in vain. From retail shops, they bought fuel oil for Tk 180 per litre.
On the other hand, Chandpur's Padma, Meghna , Jamuna depots' managers and officials told the FE that there was enough stock of fuel in their depots. They said next one week will go easily with the current stock of fuel.
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