Difficulty in getting fuel oil in Chittagong, anger increases the price

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Payar Mohammad is sitting on a motorcycle with an umbrella on his head in the hot sun. A long row of motorcycles in front, it is moving slowly. Sometimes it stops. Disgust on everyone’s face. In front of the Tigerpass agency filling station in Chittagong city, I spoke to Payar Mohammad in this row of motorcycles on Sunday afternoon.

Alape Payer Mohammad said that his family runs on the income he earns by sharing rides on motorcycles. However, his income has decreased for quite some time. Because, a lot of time is wasted waiting at the filling station for fuel oil. Now the price of fuel increases again and will suffer more. He said, “There is already tension in the family, now there is pressure to increase the price of oil again.” I don’t know how to handle this pressure. I am in a lot of trouble.

Payer’s home is in Patiya, about 25 km from the city. Every day he comes to the city on a motorcycle and shares the ride. Age is approaching 50. Long time driving is not easy anymore. However, he has to go to the streets because of the family. He said that the daily income was usually between 1,000 and 1,200 taka, sometimes even 1,500 taka. But in the last one month the income has decreased by 300 to 400 taka. The reason is only one, hours are spent standing in the oil line.

Around 12 noon today, at least 110 motorcycles were seen waiting in a queue at the Tigerpass filling station. The number of motorcycles was increasing with time. Some are waiting for two hours, some three hours and taking fuel oil. Irritation on everyone’s face, fatigue in the body.

Mohammad Saidul Islam is standing in the row. He said that he visited three filling stations in the morning but did not get oil. Finally came to Tigerpass and saw that the supply has started. Still standing in the queue for more than two hours.

Talked with Riaz Uddin at the same place. His house is in Oxygen area of ​​the city. Driver by profession. While waiting in line, he said, if the price of oil increases, we also have to increase the rent. If you don’t increase it, it won’t work. But passengers don’t want to accept that. Arguing about the rent today is the first day.

Riaz said, where earlier passengers were available for a fixed fare, now they have to bargain on almost every trip. As it is wasting time, it is also creating an uncomfortable situation with the passengers.

The picture of almost all the filling stations in Chittagong city is now the same. Most of the half hundred stations have long queues of small and big vehicles. At these filling stations, some are returning with oil, some are returning empty-handed.

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“The price has been increased, now we want oil”

Mohammad Zakir Hossain was standing in line at the army filling station of Hashmical area under Bayezid police station of the city around 10 am. After waiting for almost two hours, his patience was breaking. He said in an annoyed voice, ‘oil has to be taken twice a day. Taking the oil once a day for a month made me sweat. The price has been increased, this time we want at least the quantity of oil. Zakir Hossain lives in Hillview area. Left the house at 9 in the morning and stood directly in the line. Drink oil around 11:30 pm.

Talked to Taimur Rahman at the same station. He said in a tone of complaint that some unscrupulous businessmen are taking advantage of the lack of normal supply of oil in the market. Oil is coming in on ships, but congestion at filling stations is not decreasing, but increasing. Fuel cards, tag officers—nothing can bring order.

It’s 2 pm in the afternoon. The flow of vehicles stopped at Gani Bekari intersection of the city. A long queue of around a kilometer surrounds the QC Trading Limited filling station. Private cars and motorcycles lined the road from Gani Bakery to JMsen Hall Mor.

On the surface, it was seen that someone is half asleep on the car seat with their eyes closed, someone is standing beside them and spending time with tea. Someone’s eyes are on the mobile screen. As soon as the line moves a little, suddenly everyone starts to move. The motorcycles are being pushed forward. Private cars are slowly starting to move forward. The topic of discussion for most of those who were chatting in groups was the new price of oil.

The Department of Energy and Mineral Resources announced the new price of fuel oil through a press release on Saturday night. It is said that the price of diesel per liter has been fixed at Tk 115, kerosene at Tk 130, octane at Tk 140 and petrol at Tk 135. The new prices are effective from today.

Pankaj Debnath was standing in this line. He drives a business vehicle. He did not leave the line despite knowing the long wait ahead. He said, ‘I have to go out of town tomorrow. It will not work if you don’t take oil today. As long as it takes, I will return with oil.” Some are getting sick after standing in long queues. Some are pouring water on their heads, some are looking for shade.