The Cabinet has discussed the severe fuel oil crisis currently gripping the capital and the rest of the country, but has reached no immediate decision to resolve the situation.
Despite long queues of vehicles at petrol pumps, the Cabinet meeting – presided over by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat on Thursday – concluded without a finalised plan for a solution.
Briefing reporters after the session, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani confirmed that while the issue of the fuel shortage and the resulting traffic congestion near pumps was raised, no specific measures were approved to address the crisis immediately.
He noted, however, that several government initiatives are ongoing, including the recovery of illegally stockpiled fuel and the importation of oil from abroad to stabilise the supply.
Renewable Energy Policy 2025
During the meeting, the Cabinet approved the “Renewable Energy Policy 2025,” which aims to generate 10,000MW of electricity solely from solar power by 2030.
Gani explained that the policy has been simplified to encourage private sector investment and will replace previous ineffective measures.
Nov 7 holiday reinstated
The government has also decided to reinstate November 7 as a public holiday, marking “National Revolution and Solidarity Day.”
The Cabinet approved categorising it as a ‘Category A’ day to be observed with appropriate dignity, noting that the day had not been officially observed for the past 16 years.
Additionally, the Cabinet declared July 6 as “National Rural Development Day.” Classified as a ‘Category B’ day, it will be observed with due solemnity but will not be a public holiday.
