Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that fuel rationing imposed on police and other emergency services has been lifted, aiming to ensure normal law-enforcement activities and uninterrupted public movement.
He made the announcement in parliament on Sunday while responding to a point of order raised by lawmaker Monirul Haque Chowdhury from Cumilla-6.
The prime minister said the decision had already been implemented two days earlier, removing restrictions on fuel supply for police and other emergency services, including ambulances and fire service units.
He expressed hope that the move would resolve concerns regarding reduced patrols and public safety.
Earlier, MP Monirul Haque Chowdhury alleged that police had reduced night patrols citing fuel rationing, leading to a rise in criminal activities and undermining public security.
He also referred to the recent killing of a customs official in Cumilla, raising questions about whether fuel shortages and rationing had contributed to the situation.
Responding to the concerns, the prime minister said the issue had already been addressed.
He noted that the embargo on fuel for emergency services, including the police, ambulances and fire brigade, had been withdrawn, and the matter had been clarified to the relevant authorities.
He added that the government expects no further disruption in law enforcement operations following the decision.
Fuel Pass to be launched for cars
Meanwhile, the digital fuel distribution app "Fuel Pass" was expanded to include private cars.
In a notice, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division said private cars bearing number plates in the "Ka", "Kha" and "Ga" registration series would be able to register with Fuel Pass from Sunday in the initial phase.
It added that private cars in other series would also be able to register in phases.
"Fuel will soon be provided to private cars, as well as motorcycles, at all filling stations in Dhaka through Fuel Pass," it said.
The division requested everyone to download the Fuel Pass app or register directly from the designated website.
Android users can download the app from the Google Play Store.
iPhone or iOS users were asked to register for Fuel Pass from the website.
10-member body formed to address energy situation
Also on Sunday, parliament formed a 10-member special committee with a 30-day tenure to submit a report with recommendations for addressing the country's energy situation stemming from the Middle East crisis.
The committee, headed by Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku (as the chairman), was formed under the rule 266 of the rules of procedure after Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni placed a proposal for the formation of the body in the House.
The joint committee was constituted with five members each from the treasury bench and the opposition bench.
The five members from the treasury bench are Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, State Minister Anindya Islam Amit, and BNP MPs ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan (Laxmipur-4), Moinul Islam Khan (Manikganj-2) and Miah Nuruddin Ahmad Apu (Shariatpur-3).
The five members from the opposition bench are Jamaat lawmakers Md Saiful Alam (Dhaka-12), Md Nurul Islam (Chapainawabganj-3) and Md Abdul Baten (Dhaka-16), NCP MP Md Abul Hasnat (Cumilla-4) and Khilafat Majlis lawmaker Mohammed Abul Hasan (Sylhet-5).
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