Local government, rural development and cooperatives minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, also the secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, on Friday warned of strict action against those responsible for creating an ‘artificial fuel crisis’, saying that the administration had been instructed to act firmly.
He said that the recent long queues at filling stations were largely the result of an ‘artificially created situation’ rather than any actual shortage, adding that domestic fuel supply remained adequate.
Fakhrul also linked the situation partly to global instability, particularly tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, but alleged that internal manipulation by dishonest traders had worsened the situation.
‘A group of unscrupulous businesses hoarded fuel and sold it on the black market, creating unnecessary panic among people,’ he said while speaking as the chief guest at a distribution programme held at Mirza Ruhul Amin Auditorium in Thakurgaon town.
The event was organised by the district administration under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to support families affected by recent storms and hailstorms. Assistance was also distributed to support the development of various social and religious institutions through the Local Government Engineering Department and the District Council.
Addressing farmers, Fakhrul said that they continued to suffer losses, noting that potato growers in particular had failed to recover even their production costs this season.
He said that the government was introducing special measures, including farmer cards, agricultural zoning and the establishment of cold storage facilities in farming areas to help preserve produce for the long term.
‘If farmers survive, we survive,’ he said.
New development plans have already been adopted and their implementation is under way, said Fakhrul, adding that the country was looking towards renewed economic growth under the leadership of prime minister Tarique Rahman.
At the programme, 500 storm-affected families received one bundle of corrugated sheets and Tk 3,000 each, while 80 families were given Tk 6,250 each.
The District Council distributed one bundle of corrugated sheets to 70 families each and Tk 5,000 to 60 families each. In addition, allocation letters worth Tk 90 lakh were handed over for 88 development projects.
Grants amounting to about Tk 20 crore were disbursed, covering 294 institutions, including 195 mosques, 89 temples, five graveyards, four Eidgahs and one cremation ground.
