Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said that there is no major shortage of fuel oil in the country. Basically, ‘panic buying’ or the fear of buying oil in excess of the requirement and the trend of illegal stockpiling by unscrupulous traders have created an artificial crisis in the market.
He said these things in the press briefing organised in the conference room of the Directorate of Information (PID) on Tuesday morning.
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury and Chief Information Officer Yakub Ali were present.
Showing a comparative picture of petrol pump-based supply, the advisor said that "a total of 3.15 lakh litres of octane were supplied to PWD Sports Club (Asad Gate) pumps in the capital last year”. “But this year, 2.7 lakh litres have been supplied in only 19 days of April, and in the case of diesel, last year’s full month supply, 221,500 litres, was completed on the first 19 days of April this year," he also stated in detail.
Similarly, 1.80 lakh litres of diesel were supplied to Satta Filling Station (Tezgaon) in 19 days, and 67 thousand 500 litres of petrol were supplied to Purbachal Traders (Paribagh) in 19 days, more than the entire month of last year.
Highlighting the latest statistics of the fuel stock and supply situation, the advisor mentioned that, “till 19 April, 122,633 metric tonnes of diesel, 27,602 metric tonnes of octane, 184,054 metric tonnes of petrol and 21,382 metric tonnes of jet fuel are stored in the country."
The adviser said that "There is no major supply crisis, ships are arriving with new fuel."
"But due to panic buying, the demand is now several times higher than usual", he added.
He also said that in view of the increased demand, the companies under the BPC have been instructed to sell fuel at an increased rate from April 20. As a result, diesel (10 per cent), petrol (10 per cent), and octane (20 per cent) are being allocated at higher rates.
Regarding the anti-illegal hoarding campaign, it was stated in the briefing by the advisor that 53 mobile courts related to illegal hoarding have been conducted till 19 April. A total of 17,280,715 taka has been paid against 47 cases. At the same time, 10 persons have been jailed for different periods.
The adviser said that a total of 562,821 litres of fuel was recovered in the operation. Of this, 381,805 litres of diesel, 40,401 litres of octane, 92,115 litres of petrol and 48,500 litres of furnace oil were recovered from Chittagong.
He said that the piloting programme of the ‘Fuel Pass BD’ app has been expanded to bring fuel distribution to order. Apart from Dhaka, motorcycle drivers of major divisional and district cities, including Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet, Rangpur, and Mymensingh can now register.
In the briefing, the adviser also uttered that currently the total registration has exceeded 1.7 lakh. However, for the time being, registered drivers can buy fuel from 18 designated pumps in Dhaka district through Fuel Pass.
Regarding the increase in public transport fares, Zahed Ur Rahman said that the government is working to protect the interests of both consumers and transport owners. If the rent increases, there is a risk of its impact on the price of goods, so the government has taken special initiatives to stand by the poor people.
In the briefing, information about the significant progress of other ministries of the government was highlighted. In this, the Ministry of Aviation and Tourism has started the operation of the newly built modern ‘Air Traffic Management Centre' at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, which will enhance regional cooperation in airspace management.
It was informed in the briefing that the use of agricultural soil in brick kilns has been banned. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has continued ‘Operation Restore’ and ‘Operation Mangrove’ to prevent banditry in the Sundarbans. It was also stated in the briefing that 400 Wi-Fi hotspots have been set up in Haor and remote areas.
Besides, the information and broadcasting adviser also said that the government is working with the highest priority on the project of generating electricity from waste, the measles vaccination programme in the health sector and reopening the Malaysian labour market.
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