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Published : 23 Mar 2026, 01:43 PM
The Rajbari district is experiencing an acute fuel crisis. None of the 10 filling stations in the district have oil, which is causing major difficulties for drivers, travellers, and the general public.
Some customers blame their suffering on an alleged syndicate of pump owners and have expressed their anger at them.
Ropes are tied up around the filling stations with signs put up that say “No Oil”. The station workers are idle. Some sit, while others wander around.
Customers are frantically going from one pump to another in search of oil. Eventually, they have to turn away with the realisation that none is to be found.
Lutfor Rahman, who hails from Kushtia, was at the Kazi Filling Station in the district town. A government employee, Lutfor came to Rajbari for his Eid holidays. Now he is in trouble as he cannot find fuel for his motorcycle to take him back to his workplace in Dhaka.
“I am headed back to Dhaka after the break ended,” he said. “There is no oil at any of the pumps in Rajbari. My motorcycle is out of oil. How will I get there?”
“This suffering is due to the syndicate of the pump owners. Other than that, there should be no reason for all these pumps to be closed simultaneously. The government must address this.”
Abdur Rab, who was standing nearby, said: “I went to Pangsha in the morning for oil. I didn’t find it. I went to all the pumps in Kalukhali and Rajbari and I see it’s the same there as well. We are facing great difficulties.”
“The government says there is no oil crisis, but there’s no oil at the pumps. There is no accountability.”
Expressing his anger, he said: “The pumps should not all run out of oil at the same time. A syndicate of pump owners is doing it. I urge the government – step up your monitoring.”
Md Hashem Ali, who was at “Rajbari Filling” station, said: “My office opens on Tuesday morning. I haven’t found oil at a single pump in Rajbari. I am going to Kishoreganj. I need at least four litres of oil for my motorcycle. I went to three pumps – none of them had any oil. Brother, it’s enough to make you cry.”
Asked about the fuel crisis, “Kazi Filling Station” cashier Abdur Razzak said: “The crisis is because there is no supply from the depot. The amount being supplied is much lower than the demand. That is why no customers are able to get oil from the station.”
Bipul Rudra, assistant manager at the “Polash Filling Station”, said: “The crisis is happening because the depots aren’t sending us oil. The minister says there is no oil crisis, but the depots aren’t giving us any.”
He said, “On Monday, we were supposed to get 9,000 litres of oil. We are getting 8,000.”
“I will need to provide 9,000 litres for trucks. If we don’t get sufficient oil to meet demand, why will pump owners sell to other vehicles?”
