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.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today (22 April) said the government will take swift action to remove dealers appointed during the “fascist regime” to ease the suffering of farmers and check the artificial crisis of fertiliser.

He made the remarks while replying to a question in this regard from Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni after the prime minister’s question-answer session in the House.

“The chief whip raised an important issue, and I noticed that the whole House welcomed it,” the prime minister said, adding that if there is agreement across the House, the government will certainly take quick action in this regard.

Earlier, the chief whip alleged that dealers, currently involved in rationing and fertiliser distribution, are harassing farmers and trying to create an artificial crisis in the market.

He said, “Bangladesh is an agriculture-dependent country. Ensuring food security, reducing poverty, and driving economic growth all depend significantly on the agricultural sector.

However, the sector faces multiple challenges due to climate change, population growth, shrinking arable land, and technological limitations.”

He said old dealer appointments should be cancelled and new ones should be appointed to ensure farmers get fertiliser at fair prices and to remove “fascist elements” from the system.

Members of Parliament thumped their desks in support during the question.

Universal healthcare a key priority

Replying to a starred question from opposition MP Hafez Muhammad Rabiul Bashar (Satkhira-3), the prime minister said ensuring universal health coverage under the “Health for All” policy is a key priority of the government’s election manifesto, reports UNB.

He said the government is committed to ensuring quality healthcare services across the country, including in remote areas.

“The government has already taken plans to improve medical infrastructure, increase manpower and provide modern medical equipment,” Tarique Rahman said.

A project has been proposed to assess the feasibility of constructing, renovating, upgrading and repairing healthcare infrastructure at the upazila level, he added.

“If approved, steps will be taken to increase bed capacity and improve facilities at upazila hospitals based on the recommendations,” the prime minister said.

Awareness drives on public health

Replying to another starred question from ruling party MP Md Showkatul Islam (Moulvibazar-2), the prime minister said the government has undertaken various programmes to raise awareness on family and public health.

He said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is carrying out awareness campaigns from the grassroots to the national level on healthcare, family planning, maternal and child health, and public health protection.

Tarique Rahman said services, including maternal care, safe institutional delivery, postnatal care, nutrition support and family planning, are being provided through hospitals, community clinics and union health centres across the country.

He said initiatives such as satellite clinics, school health education programmes, counselling, media campaigns and family planning awareness activities are helping address issues like adolescent care, child marriage prevention, birth spacing and violence against women.

The prime minister said the government is also running programmes to control communicable and non-communicable diseases, promote public health education, and expand telemedicine and health information services.

He said regular campaigns such as National Sanitation Month in October, World Handwashing Day on 15 October and World Water Day on 22 March are also observed to promote hygiene and public health practices.