Fuel traders have voluntarily suspended the lifting and distribution of petroleum products from oil depots in Khulna and 15 surrounding districts, citing inadequate supply to meet growing demand.
The suspension began at 8am on Saturday as traders halted fuel lifting and marketing from depots operated by Padma Oil Company Limited, Meghna Petroleum Limited, and Jamuna Oil Company Limited.
Later at noon, leaders of four organisations representing fuel traders held an emergency meeting at the Khulna Tank Lorry Owners’ Association building to discuss the situation.
Leaders of the owners’ associations said that previously each depot supplied fuel according to market demand.
However, citing the ongoing global energy crisis, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has instructed depots to limit fuel supply.
According to traders, the daily demand for petrol, octane, diesel and other fuels in Khulna division and the surrounding 15 districts ranges between 40 lakh and 45 lakh litres. In contrast, the three depots in Khulna are currently supplying only around 900,000 litres per day.
Fuel station owners and agents proposed increasing supply by an additional 450,000 litres to150,000 litres from each of the three depots-but the proposal was rejected by BPC.
Following the decision, traders announced the suspension of fuel lifting and distribution.
The emergency meeting was chaired by Sheikh Murad Hossain, vice-president of the Bangladesh Fuel Oil Distributors Association. Among others, Sultan Mahmud Pintu, general secretary of the Khulna Divisional Tank Lorry Owners Association, Sheikh Amanat Ali and Rafiqul Islam Nantu also spoke at the meeting.
