Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI) has demanded an immediate suspension of the government's initiative to allow the private sector to import, store, transport, distribute and market refined petroleum products.
Secretary General of the party Mia Golam Porwar made the demand at a press briefing on Saturday (8 August) at Jamaat's central office in the capital's Mogbazar area.
Describing the government move as "a transfer, not reform", the BJI also warned that it could create private monopolies.
"The move could concentrate the fuel market in the hands of a few business groups rather than an increase in competition," he said.
He said that the new policy was being drafted to open refined fuel imports and marketing to private companies.
He argued that fuel imports required deep-sea ports, the Single Point Mooring, large tank terminals, pipelines and bank financing worth hundreds of millions of dollars - facilities and financial capacity available to only three or four groups in Bangladesh.
The initiative gained momentum after the appointment of a new Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) chairman.
The chairman was instructed to prepare a draft policy for private-sector involvement in refined fuel import, storage, transportation, distribution and marketing just four days after taking office.
The party rejected claims that BPC was inefficient or loss-making, saying it made a profit of Tk 39.43 billion (Tk 3,943 crore) in fiscal year (FY) 2023-24 and Tk 20.50 billion (Tk 2,050 crore) in the FY 2024-25.
Jamaat also alleged that the ongoing fuel crisis was being used as a pretext for privatisation.
Referring to a 28 July decision of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, it claimed the government was seeking to cut the tender period for international procurement of refined fuel for September-December 2026 from 42 days to 10 days, potentially limiting participation by major international suppliers.
Regarding energy-security concerns the Jamaat said that petroleum products are vital for defence, agriculture, power, transport and aviation. Greater private-sector control, it argued, could weaken the state's ability to ensure direct control and supply during war or disasters.
Jamaat further alleged that moves were underway to curtail legal protections for leaders of fuel-sector workers' organisations in an effort to silence opposition to privatisation.
The party asked whether a draft policy on private-sector fuel imports and marketing was being processed by the relevant ministry, what study supported the decision, which companies had submitted applications or proposals, and whether the draft and related documents would be made public.
The BJI also questioned whether retail prices would be set by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) or private companies, saying it was not opposed to a market economy or private investment.
Mr Mia Golam Porwar called upon the government to take six measures that include: halting privatisation; publishing all relevant documents and allowing at least 60 days for public consultation; and holding an open parliamentary hearing involving opposition parties, the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, the Centre for Policy Dialogue, university energy experts, labour federations and consumers.
The Jamaat also demanded BPC reforms through independent audits, professional board appointments, mandatory e-GP and quarterly disclosure of import prices and volumes; a timeline for implementing Eastern Refinery's second unit (ERL-2) and expanding strategic fuel storage; and withdrawal of recommendations curtailing fuel workers' legal protections.
