Tank lorry returns empty as depot fails to supply expected fuel in Fatullah

A tank lorry from a filling station in the capital returned without collecting fuel from a depot in Narayanganj's Fatullah after failing to receive the government-declared expected quantity.

Petrol Pump Owners' Association convener Sazzadul Karim Kabul confirmed the matter to The Business Standard this afternoon (20 April).

He said his station, Hasan Filling Station in Agargaon, usually collects fuel from Jamuna Oil Company depot in Fatullah.

"My tank lorry has a capacity of 13,500 litres. For the past three days, we have been receiving only 9,000 litres. Today, the depot again offered 9,000 litres, so out of frustration, I decided not to take any fuel," he said.

When contacted over the matter, Jamuna Oil Company Limited General Manager (Marketing) Md Masudul Islam declined to make any comment.

Sazzadul Karim Kabul said the situation at fuel stations has become increasingly difficult to manage due to heavy demand and crowd pressure.

"Our staff are struggling to cope. The manager of my station, who had been working for a long time, resigned last night after being threatened by local miscreants over fuel distribution," Kabul said.

"Such incidents are happening even in the presence of police, who appear unable to intervene effectively. If this continues, we may be forced to shut down the pump," he warned.

He also said that after the recent hike in fuel prices, pump owners had expected the government to ease supply restrictions.

"But that has not happened. With renewed disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the government seems to be in a state of panic," he said.

Blaming bureaucratic complications and delays, he argued that the crisis could be resolved if depots ensured an uninterrupted fuel supply to filling stations for at least a week.

"Oil companies sell fuel; they are controlled by BPC, which in turn is overseen by the ministry and ultimately by the prime minister's office. By the time decisions pass through all these layers, it is already too late," Kabul added.

Earlier, the government on Saturday (18 April) raised the prices of all types of fuel at the consumer level in line with the rise in global fuel prices, with effect from yesterday (19 April).

Following the hike, the price of diesel rises to Tk115 per litre from Tk100, octane rises to Tk140 from Tk120, petrol to Tk135 from Tk116, and kerosene to Tk130 per litre from Tk112.

Later, yesterday, the government announced a 10-20% increase in diesel, octane and petrol supplies to ease the shortages.