United News of Bangladesh

The government will ensure enough fuel supply for public transport to ensure safe, smooth and comfortable travel for passengers during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam said on Saturday. The minister made the remarks while visiting several major bus terminals in the capital in the afternoon. During the inspection, he visited the BRTC bus counter at Fulbaria, Gulistan bus stand and Sayedabad bus terminal. The minister also interacted with passengers, inquiring whether they were facing any difficulties or harassment during their journeys. Speaking to reporters after the visit, Rabiul said the government is working tirelessly to make this year’s Eid journey safe, smooth and comfortable under the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. “We are working round the clock so that people can return home with ease and celebrate Eid with their families in a joyful environment.” The minister said buses are currently operating according to the scheduled timings and fares, adding that adequate fuel supply has been ensured for public transport so that passengers are not burdened with extra fares. He also said the authorities concerned are working round the clock to keep the road transport system functioning smoothly so that travellers can reach their destinations safely and on time. Rabiul said bus owners’ associations, workers’ organisations and relevant government agencies are jointly monitoring the situation on the ground to ensure hassle-free Eid travel. “The ministry has also taken several initiatives to make travel more comfortable for passengers. Limited arrangements for iftar have been made for fasting travellers at several highway toll plazas, while nearby hospitals have been kept prepared to provide immediate primary treatment if anyone falls ill during the journey.” Mobile courts are also being operated to prevent overcharging and passenger harassment, the minister added. He said authorities have already identified possible congestion-prone areas and taken additional monitoring measures there. In places where road construction or repair work is ongoing, a certain number of lanes have been kept open to maintain normal traffic flow. “We are utilising our maximum capacity to ensure a safe, comfortable and smooth Eid journey this year. We hope people will be able to return home without disruption.” State Minister for Road Transport and Highways Habibur Rashid, Chief Coordinator of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division Mohammed Ziaul Haque, leaders of transport owners’ and workers’ associations, and senior government officials were present during the visit.

Ameer-e-Jamaat Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Monday urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure adequate fuel supply by urgently contacting international partners and friendly countries. In a Facebook post from his verified account, he said the suffering of people in different parts of the country, including the capital, in buying fuel is “very painful”. He mentioned that people have been waiting in queues stretching for kilometres and standing for hours to buy fuel, while many are fasting during Ramadan and some vehicles have already run out of fuel. Dr Shafiqur said the crisis is not only disrupting the travel of ordinary people but also affecting electricity generation and industrial activities. With the Eid journey approaching, he warned that the situation could make travel even more difficult for people if it is not resolved quickly. He said Jamaat had earlier urged the government to take initiatives to import fuel from alternative sources, but the situation is worsening day by day. “We once again request the government to take immediate initiatives and ensure fuel supply on an urgent basis by contacting international partners and friendly countries,” he said. He also urged people to remain patient during the crisis and avoid unnecessary use of fuel. “May Allah grant us the strength to overcome this crisis,” he added.  

The Cabinet Division has ordered conducting mobile court drives nationwide to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply and prevent artificial shortages in the market. The Cabinet Division’s District Magistrate Monitoring Wing issued a letter to all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) across the country to take steps in this regard . A letter signed by Nahida Akter Tania, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Cabinet Division, said the special initiative aims to maintain order in the fuel market and ensure that no artificial crisis arises. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division on Sunday requested the Cabinet Secretary to instruct deputy commissioners (DCs) across the country to conduct mobile courts to prevent illegal hoarding of fuel and sales at prices higher than the government-set rates. In a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary, the division said media reports indicate that some unscrupulous traders are stockpiling fuel illegally in an attempt to create an artificial shortage in the market amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. To address the situation, the government has already fixed the amount of fuel that can be supplied based on the type of vehicle. Despite this measure, there have been reports of petrol pumps and filling stations selling fuel at prices higher than the government-approved rates, hoarding excess quantities for higher profits, selling fuel in the open market and engaging in smuggling. In this situation, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division requested the Cabinet Secretary to issue necessary instructions to deputy commissioners to conduct mobile courts to stop illegal hoarding of fuel, prevent sales above the fixed price, halt open market sales and curb smuggling.  

A preliminary investigation into last month’s Air India crash has revealed that the fuel control switches for both engines were moved from the “run” to the “cutoff” position moments before the aircraft went down, cutting off fuel and leading to engine failure. According to the report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, this change in switch position — which occurred shortly after takeoff — caused the engines to lose thrust. The report also suggested that the pilots were confused by the switch change. Death toll in India plane crash rises to 270 as more bodies recovered The crash involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on June 12 in Ahmedabad, killing at least 260 people, including 19 on the ground. Only one passenger survived, making it one of the deadliest air disasters in India’s history. The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers — including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian — along with 12 crew members. Investigators reported that the flight lasted only about 30 seconds. After reaching its peak recorded speed, the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were flipped from “run” to “cutoff” within a second of each other. The report does not clarify how or why this occurred mid-flight. These switches control the flow of fuel to the engines, and moving them to the “cutoff” position effectively starves the engines of fuel. Although they were returned to the “run” position, the engines could not recover power in time to prevent the crash. A distress call of “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” was recorded from one of the pilots, the report stated. Cockpit voice recordings also captured a moment of confusion, with one pilot asking the other why the fuel had been cut off — to which the other pilot replied that he had not done it. The report, still in its preliminary stage, does not suggest any corrective actions for Boeing. Air India has stated it is cooperating fully with investigators. “We are working with all relevant authorities and will continue to support the ongoing investigation,” the airline said in a statement. Black boxes, which include cockpit voice and flight data recordings, were recovered shortly after the crash and analyzed in India. In response to the incident, Indian aviation authorities have mandated additional inspections of Air India’s fleet of 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to ensure safety going forward.

Fuel collection, marketing and transportation have been suspended in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions since Wednesday morning due to a wildcat strike enforced by Bangladesh Petroleum, Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petrol Pump Owners’ Association. Rajshahi and Rangpur divisional chapters of the association went on strike together in protest against an eviction drive by Roads and Highways Department (RHD) in Boguar’s Santahar on Tuesday. Two petrol pumps were demolished during the drive. In a statement, signed by Rajshahi chapter president Md Mizanur Rahman and general secretary Md Abdul Jalil, the decision to enforce the strike was made public on Tuesday shortly after the eviction drive. Commuters suffer as Bhola bus workers go on strike Though it was scheduled to enforce the strike from 8am on Wednesday, most of refilling stations in Natore remained closed since 6am, crippling vehicle movement. The statement reads the RHD conducted the eviction drive without any prior notice to the fuel pump authorities which was unprecedented. Urging the petrol pump owners to observe the strike, the association sensed conspiracy against the government in the drive, according to the statement.

Fuel collection from three depots in Khulna and its supply to 16 districts under Khulna division resumed on Wednesday morning following the withdrawal of the indefinite work abstention enforced by Khulna divisional tank-lorry workers’ union. The union’s treasurer Mizanur Rahman said they called off the strike early Wednesday after the district administration assured of meeting their demands. workers started lifting fuel and supplying it to the districts at 8am, he said.Earlier on Sunday afternoon, the workers went on an indefinite work abstention protesting the arrest of union general secretary Ali Azam in a sabotage case and demanding his release. Tank Lorry workers struck work in Khulna to protest union leader's arrest As a result, the fuel lifting from the depots and supply to refueling stations came to a halt across the division. Detectives arrested leader Azam on Sunday and handed over to Khalishpur police station. He is an identified accused in the sabotage case filed on August 21 last. Protesting the arrest, the workers refrained from loading fuel from Padma, Meghna and Jauma depots.