Petroleum supply to Rangpur depots streamlined
Our Correspondent | Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Our Correspondent
RANGPUR, Apr 5: Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation despatched on Saturday the first consignment of diesel to Rangpur depots from the port city of Chittagong under a special arrangement to ease the fuel crisis in the region during this Irri-Boro season. A total of 24 wagons reached Parbatipur with about 894 thousand litres of diesel to be stored in the three depots, Padma, Meghna and Jamuna, near the Railway Station of Rangpur. The stock will be supplied later to the eight districts in Rangpur division to facilitate the paddy cultivation, sources said. Jamuna Petroleum Sales Manager Mahbubur Rahman said the fuel was supplied to the Rangpur depots as usual from Parbatipur. A temporary crisis of fuel had cropped up in the region last week. So the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation in association with the Communications Ministry began to supply diesel to the Rangpur depots from Chittagong for the sake of smooth IRRI and Boro cultivation. Deputy Commissioner BM Enamul Haque visited the depots Saturday morning. He said, "Rangpur is a surplus food producing region. About 500 thousand tonnes of food, out of 1.0 million tonnes produced in Rangpur division, are usually supplied to elsewhere in the country." "So, the government has taken the special measures to supply diesel to the Rangpur depots to facilitate Irri and Boro farming." He also said, "A consignment of diesel will be supplied to Rangpur depots every week so that the stocks in the region do not run out." About 1.5 million litres of diesel are required in Rangpur division for farming everyday in April, the peak irrigation season. Farmers in a dilemma Another report adds: The poverty stricken IRRI-Boro farmers of the district are in great trouble as an organised section of dishonest traders are now active in making advance payment for purchasing their products at cheaper prices, sources said. There are at least one month and fifteen days left before starting harvesting of the IRRI-Boro paddy in the district, as there is no work in the fields and no sources available to earn money for their livelihood during the current period. As a result, the poor farmers are becoming easy prey to the profit mongering section of people. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources a total of 1,35,075 hectares of land were brought under boro cultivation. The farmers are optimistic about achieving a satisfactory production. DAE sources said, owing to conducive climate, availability of required seeds, fertilisers, insecticides and other inputs a bumper yield of IRRI-Boro is expected across the district. But the benefit of high yields of IRRI-Boro crops might be reaped by the organised section of advanced money lenders, it is apprehended by the experienced circles. Helal Miah (45), at Talimgaj village under Mithapukur upazila told the FE that he has cultivated IRRI-Boro paddy on two acres of land. But due to money constraints and high irrigation cost he was forced to borrow Tk 8,000 from a money lender under an agreement to sell to him twenty maunds of paddy at the rate of Tk 4,00 per maund. Similarly Abdur Rahim (45) of Kolkond, Ebadur (50) and many others of Gangachhara Mithapukur and Pirgachhara upazila of the district said that they have sold their crops in advance at cheaper prices to borrow money for meeting the expenses of rearing of crop fields. 43 jawans sentenced Forty-three jawans of 34 Battalion under Rangpur sector of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were yesterday (Sunday) sentenced to jail terms ranging from six months to six years for their involvement in the 2009 mutiny. The special court-13 headed by Dinajpur Sector Commander Col Md Saleh Ahmad delivered the judgement in the Rangpur mutiny case and also fined the convicts Tk 100 each.
RANGPUR, Apr 5: Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation despatched on Saturday the first consignment of diesel to Rangpur depots from the port city of Chittagong under a special arrangement to ease the fuel crisis in the region during this Irri-Boro season. A total of 24 wagons reached Parbatipur with about 894 thousand litres of diesel to be stored in the three depots, Padma, Meghna and Jamuna, near the Railway Station of Rangpur. The stock will be supplied later to the eight districts in Rangpur division to facilitate the paddy cultivation, sources said. Jamuna Petroleum Sales Manager Mahbubur Rahman said the fuel was supplied to the Rangpur depots as usual from Parbatipur. A temporary crisis of fuel had cropped up in the region last week. So the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation in association with the Communications Ministry began to supply diesel to the Rangpur depots from Chittagong for the sake of smooth IRRI and Boro cultivation. Deputy Commissioner BM Enamul Haque visited the depots Saturday morning. He said, "Rangpur is a surplus food producing region. About 500 thousand tonnes of food, out of 1.0 million tonnes produced in Rangpur division, are usually supplied to elsewhere in the country." "So, the government has taken the special measures to supply diesel to the Rangpur depots to facilitate Irri and Boro farming." He also said, "A consignment of diesel will be supplied to Rangpur depots every week so that the stocks in the region do not run out." About 1.5 million litres of diesel are required in Rangpur division for farming everyday in April, the peak irrigation season. Farmers in a dilemma Another report adds: The poverty stricken IRRI-Boro farmers of the district are in great trouble as an organised section of dishonest traders are now active in making advance payment for purchasing their products at cheaper prices, sources said. There are at least one month and fifteen days left before starting harvesting of the IRRI-Boro paddy in the district, as there is no work in the fields and no sources available to earn money for their livelihood during the current period. As a result, the poor farmers are becoming easy prey to the profit mongering section of people. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources a total of 1,35,075 hectares of land were brought under boro cultivation. The farmers are optimistic about achieving a satisfactory production. DAE sources said, owing to conducive climate, availability of required seeds, fertilisers, insecticides and other inputs a bumper yield of IRRI-Boro is expected across the district. But the benefit of high yields of IRRI-Boro crops might be reaped by the organised section of advanced money lenders, it is apprehended by the experienced circles. Helal Miah (45), at Talimgaj village under Mithapukur upazila told the FE that he has cultivated IRRI-Boro paddy on two acres of land. But due to money constraints and high irrigation cost he was forced to borrow Tk 8,000 from a money lender under an agreement to sell to him twenty maunds of paddy at the rate of Tk 4,00 per maund. Similarly Abdur Rahim (45) of Kolkond, Ebadur (50) and many others of Gangachhara Mithapukur and Pirgachhara upazila of the district said that they have sold their crops in advance at cheaper prices to borrow money for meeting the expenses of rearing of crop fields. 43 jawans sentenced Forty-three jawans of 34 Battalion under Rangpur sector of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were yesterday (Sunday) sentenced to jail terms ranging from six months to six years for their involvement in the 2009 mutiny. The special court-13 headed by Dinajpur Sector Commander Col Md Saleh Ahmad delivered the judgement in the Rangpur mutiny case and also fined the convicts Tk 100 each.