Irate customers block Dhaka-Khulna highway for an hour after not receiving fuel

The blockade was staged in front of the Nigi Filling Station in the Mandartala area of Gopalganj Sadar on Thursday around 2:45pm

Customers have staged an hour-long blockade of the Dhaka-Khulna highway after they were unable to get fuel at the Gopalganj Filling Station, leading to a two-kilometre-long tailback.

Tree trunks were used to block the road in front of the Nigi Filling Station in the Mandartala of Gopalganj Sadar around 2:45pm on Thursday, said Sub Inspector Rezaul Karim of the Sadar Police Station.

At least fifty vehicles were stranded on both sides of the highway, causing inconvenience to the general public, including passengers and drivers. After an hour, police went to the protestors and requested them to lift the blockade. The situation returned to normal after the police intervention.

Due to an oil shortage, seven filling stations in the municipal area of Gopalganj stopped providing fuel this morning. Drivers grew agitated as they were unable to get fuel after hours of waiting.

Some of the protesters -- Ashiq Alam, Samad Kayes, and Sakib Sheikh -- alleged that filling stations had sufficient fuel stock, but were not selling it.

They said they waited for hours from dawn for fuel, but could not get it. The fuel shortage has led to a slowdown in business, trade, and work and affecting many people.

The protesters demanded the authorities step in to normalise fuel supply soon.

Nigi Filling Station owner Mofizur Rahman Mofiz said, "We have to supply fuel until late at night. The pump employees are falling ill due to overwork. Some employees have even quit their jobs."

"Because of this, oil supply activities are being disrupted. Still, we are trying to supply."

SI Rezaul said, "We went to the scene after receiving the news of the blockade of the Dhaka-Khulna highway. Later, we cleared the blockade from the Dhaka-Khulna highway by convincing the protesters and removing the tree trunks. Traffic on the highway returned to normal after 3:15pm."

The official also said that in the afternoon, district administration Assistant Commissioner Shahriar Ahmed and Executive Magistrate Fardin Khan Prince went to the filling station and supervised the fuel distribution. After that, the supply situation normalised.