United News of Bangladesh

The government will take tougher measures against fuel hoarding and smuggling as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday directed the authorities concerned to act against those creating an artificial oil crisis in the country. He gave the directives chairing the meeting of the BNP Parliamentary Party at the Ruling Party’s Meeting Room at the Parliament Secretariat in the afternoon, a day before the first session of the 13th parliament will resume after a 14-day recess. Tarique Rahman, also the Leader of the House, asked the Members of Parliament (MPs) to be vigilant against the artificial fuel crisis and price hike, said Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni while talking to reporters after the meeting. PM Tarique Rahman visits BNP central office in Nayapaltan “Our leader has given a directive to the MPs to remain vigilant everywhere so that fuel price would not go high and the government, in coordination with the district administration and other (field-level) administrations, can take action wherever necessary,” he said. The Prime Minister also directed the Power, Energy and Mineral Resource Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood to deliver a speech under the Section 300 of the Rules of Procedure in the House on Sunday with a tough message against the fuel hoarding. The Chief Whip said the government provides Tk 200 crore subsidy every month to keep fuel prices under control. “The government is trying to keep the price of oil stable by subsidizing about 200 crore taka every month. But some unscrupulous syndicates are trying to create an artificial crisis,” he said. Noting that fuel is smuggled from the country due higher prices in a neighbouring country, the Chief Whip informed that the Prime Minister asked the Home Minister to take tough action against fuel smuggling. “Besides, operations will be conducted against those who hoard fuel or try to create an artificial crisis simultaneously,” said Nurul Islam while raising the PM’s directives given in the meeting.