‘No real fuel crisis’: Govt points to syndicates, opposition warns of public suffering

The government has dismissed concerns over a fuel crisis, calling it "artificial" and attributing pump queues to black market activities, while opposition leaders in parliament warned of deaths and severe public suffering, urging the formation of a joint committee and coordinated strategy to address the situation.

Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku yesterday (22 April) told the parliament there is no real fuel crisis in the country, describing it as a "man-made crisis." He stated that there are sufficient stocks of diesel, octane, petrol, and jet fuel at present, and that supply has increased significantly compared to the previous year.

During a discussion raised by Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman on the immediate, effective and visible government measures to resolve the current fuel crisis and alleviate public suffering, the energy minister blamed an informal market created by dishonest syndicates for the long queues at petrol pumps. 

He said law enforcement agencies are regularly conducting drives to curb illegal stockpiling and black marketing, and that recovered fuel is being supplied to the market. Mentioning that the government does not have direct control over the LPG sector, he noted that prices are determined by a commission due to its privatisation. 

He also called for national unity to tackle the situation.

Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur said due to the ongoing fuel crisis, people have died while standing in queues to collect fuel. 

He said people waiting for long hours at pumps has severely been reducing the income of low-income groups.

He proposed the formation of a "joint committee" comprising both government and opposition members to address the crisis. 

Shafiqur said instead of a blame game between the government and opposition, constructive dialogue was necessary. 

He urged strict action against dishonest traders and syndicates and stressed working together in national interest.

Participating in the discussion, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament that he does not consider the current fuel situation a "crisis." 

He claimed that boro cultivation, industries, and businesses have not been disrupted due to fuel issues and that all activities are proceeding normally. 

He said the government has adjusted fuel prices within a tolerable range and that law enforcement agencies are regularly conducting drives against black marketers and hoarders. 

He also claimed that fuel smuggling across borders has been brought under control.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit said the Middle East war and instability in the Strait of Hormuz have created significant uncertainty in global fuel supply, which has affected Bangladesh as well. He noted that when the government took office, the country had only seven days' worth of fuel reserves, while international prices had risen sharply.

In response, the government took careful and planned steps to procure fuel from alternative sources, reorganise supply, and increase reserves. As a result, fuel demand has been ensured until May, with preparations underway for June and July.

The state minister alleged that illegal stockpiling, black marketing, and smuggling are major causes of the crisis. 

He said also long queues at pumps do not reflect the full picture of the crisis, as a large portion of total demand is used in other sectors.

He said that the government is consulting experts, media, and stakeholders and has experimentally introduced a "fuel pass," which will gradually be expanded nationwide.

Opposition MPs Masud Parvez, Atikur Rahman Mujahid, and Saiful Alam also took part in the discussion.

Opposition members said during the peak boro season, farmers are not getting fuel for irrigation. Even after price increases, queues at pumps have not decreased. While the government talks about black marketing, it is not clear what measures have been taken to stop it.

Speakers said that management failures and dependence on a single global supply source have worsened the crisis. 

They also noted that the government's information does not match ground realities, which is contributing to the situation. 

MPs proposed working jointly with the government to resolve the crisis.