Increased supply, 'fuel pass' ease motorists' queues

Increased fuel supply from the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) coupled with the introduction of a 'fuel pass' system has helped ease the motorists' rush to petrol pumps to some extent.

Spot visits to some filling stations in the capital revealed that the queues of motorists were comparatively shorter than those of the previous days.

"Previously, it took more than two to three  hours to get fuel, but today I have managed to get it within 50 minutes," a biker named Md Hashem told the FE at Pubali Filling Station at Motijheel in the capital.

Md Jamil Hossain, a driver of a private car, also said he was able to receive fuel from a petrol pump at Malibagh much earlier than before.

Earlier, the government increased the supply of

fuel oils in the market after their price hikes by Tk 15 to

Tk 20 per litre.

According to petrol pump operators, octane supply has increased by 20 per cent and that of diesel and petrol rose by 10 per cent each.

They said the crowds at filling stations mainly for petrol and octane started decreasing following the increase in their supplies.

Besides, the introduction of fuel passes at major filling stations in the capital Dhaka also helped stop the repeated refuelling of the same motorcycle.

The government has taken multiple initiatives simultaneously to reduce public suffering over fuel as the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation/ government took initiatives to import diesel from alternative sources.

Some ships carrying diesel are scheduled to arrive this month. Diesel is still being unloaded from a ship in Chattogram, it was learnt.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com