United News of Bangladesh

The government has withdrawn the rationing system for fuel sales, allowing filling stations across the country to resume normal operations from Sunday. From now on, fuel will be supplied and sold according to customers’ demand at all filling stations until further notice. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit announced the decision at a press conference at the Secretariat on Sunday. Five projects underway to improve primary education system, Milon tells JS However, he warned that strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to stockpile fuel taking advantage of the situation. The state minister said the government had earlier taken several measures, including introducing rationing in fuel distribution, to address supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. “Several imported oil-carrying vessels have already reached Chattogram Port,” he said. Considering the upcoming Eid travel and the needs of farmers during the ongoing Boro cultivation season, the government has decided to lift all restrictions including fuel rationing, he added. The move is expected to ease concerns among travellers and farmers ahead of Eid and the peak irrigation period of the Boro season.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has asked his ministry officials to ensure more attractive filling stations, offering all modern facilities.   “You must ensure the filling stations are built with an attractive look by ensuring standard facilities. There must be clean and adequate wash blocks,” he said, at a review meeting at the energy division on a project undertaken by the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) to build GPS location-based filling stations.  He also directed the officials to expedite the implementation of the project and use modern technologies in strengthening the BPC’s petroleum fuel sales network under a strong monitoring system. According to the officials, the energy division took up the project to build a new type of filling station on the country’s highways, where modern amenities for drivers and passengers such as separate dormitories for men and women, washrooms, ATM booths, cafeteria, parking area, and a prayer room would be accommodated. Read: Power crisis will not last long: Nasrul Hamid Motorists and commuters would even use the dormitories at night for a small fee, the official said. At present, officials said, there are 2297 refueling stations across the country. However, most of them lack even basic facilities like washrooms for drivers and passengers. Also at today's meeting, Nasrul Hamid said the monitoring activities have to be strengthened to check adulteration in petroleum sold to the public. Appreciating the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) for updating the data on the country's filling stations, he said the GPS locations of the refueling stations have to be integrated with the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) map of the organization.   Senior secretary of the Energy Division Mabub Hossain, BPC chairman ABM Azad, and Padma Oil Company’s managing director Md Abu Saleh Ikbal and other top officials were present at the meeting.

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) on Monday fined two filling stations Tk 100,000 for weight and measurement manipulation in the capital.