Staff Reporter:

Growing anger has erupted among fuel traders, agents, and dealers of state-owned Padma and Meghna oil companies in the country’s northern region over alleged mismanagement and corruption in fuel distribution by local sales officers.

Traders complain they are not receiving fuel according to their requisitions despite adequate reserves stored at the Baghabari depot. They warn that the resulting artificial shortage could trigger severe market instability across the region.

Complainants allege that sales officers—in collusion with Baghabari Depot Managers (Operations) and Assistant General Managers (AGM) at the Bogura Regional Office—manipulate daily supply lists. Genuine high-demand traders are routinely denied required allotments, while favored dealers receive excess allocations that are subsequently diverted to the black market for windfall profits.

“Sales officers, invoking the name of the Personal Secretary (PS) to the Energy Minister, allocate extra fuel to those who provide kickbacks via mobile financial services like bKash or Rocket,” said an authorized agent of Padma and Meghna, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Legitimate dealers are forced to accept reduced quotas, and any protest is dismissed with excuses citing higher authorities.”

The supply disruption is already cascading through the local transport sector. Azizur Rahman Gyada, President of the Northern Region Tank-Lorry Workers’ Association, reported that many drivers now remain idle as fewer lorries are loaded for delivery.

Jakir Hossain, another authorized agent, warned that the supply chain breakdown threatens to trigger a broader fuel crisis that could tarnish the government’s image. He urged higher authorities to intervene immediately, eliminate extortion, and restore equitable distribution.

Defending the distribution process, Rabiul Islam, Manager of the Meghna Petroleum Depot at Baghabari, denied allegations of favoritism. “We distribute fuel based on demand lists generated by our regional office, calculated against previous years’ consumption. Additional allotments are only issued after verifying genuine need,” he said.

Mohammad Ahsanul Amin, AGM of Meghna Petroleum’s Bogura Regional Office, added that a government-mandated rationing system has been in place since March to manage fuel stocks. “We continue to follow top-tier directives. If supply chain disruptions occur, we will consult higher authorities to resolve them,” Amin stated.

Officials from Padma Oil Company declined to comment despite repeated attempts to contact them by phone and in person at their Baghabari office.