Staff Correspondent:

A severe fuel shortage has affected filling stations across five northern districts, with Rangpur’s depots running low due to disrupted rail supplies from Chattogram. The issue has persisted for over five months, creating significant strain on the region’s fuel supply chain.

Officials from the Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna depots confirmed that fuel deliveries had fallen drastically behind, with only 30 lakh litres delivered in August, against a monthly demand of approximately 2.5 crore litres.

The Rangpur depots typically serve Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, and Nilphamari.

According to sources from Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and depot officials, the shortage has been caused by a lack of locomotives within the railway system, which has disrupted the regular fuel deliveries.

Md Azizur Islam Mintu, president of the Rangpur District Petroleum Dealers Association, expressed concerns over the continuing crisis.

“For five months, supply has been insufficient to meet demand. If this persists, it will have serious consequences for agriculture, industry, and transportation in the region,” he warned.

With railway shipments stalled, fuel operators are turning to more distant sources at higher costs.

Mizanur Rahman, owner of Mizan Filling Station in Rangpur’s Charitala Mor, explained, “Without fuel arriving by train, we are sourcing it from Chattogram and Parbatipur, which is much more expensive. If we received supply from Rangpur depot, the costs would be significantly lower.”

Another dealer, Manzur Azad, noted, “We are now getting supplies from Parbatipur and Baghabari, which doubles transport costs and adds delays of two to three days due to long queues. This is affecting not only businesses but also the agriculture and transport sectors.”

The fuel crisis has also left hundreds of workers unemployed.

Alaul Mia Lallu, general secretary of the Rangpur Tank-Lorry Workers’ Union, said, “Over 600 workers have lost their jobs due to the ongoing shortage. We have sent multiple requests to the authorities, but nothing has changed.

“If regular supply does not resume soon, we will be forced to protest.”

Dealers’ associations have sent letters to the Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Adviser and the Divisional Commissioner, but no resolution has been reached.

Jakir Hossain Patwari, in charge of Meghna Petroleum Depot, explained, “The issue is not a lack of fuel in Chattogram, but the insufficient number of wagons to transport it. Our monthly demand is 25 lakh litres, but we are receiving only 5 lakh litres.”

Aminur Rahman, in charge of Padma Petroleum Depot, added, “Previously, two engines were used to transport fuel to Rangpur, allowing for 8 to 10 trips a month. Now, with only one engine, this has been reduced to 4 to 5 trips.

“That engine is now being reassigned elsewhere, leaving the depots almost empty.”

Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Rabiul Faisal acknowledged the fuel supply disruption and stated, “The shortage is due to the railway engine issue. We expect the situation to improve within a week.”