The south-western region of the country was facing a severe fuel crisis because of the ongoing political deadlock and unrest, businessmen claimed.
The fuel dealers have stopped taking deliveries of petroleum products from the state owned depots: Padma, Meghna and Jamuna oil companies in Khulna because of security concerns.
These three oil companies have been supplying fuel to many districts of the region including Bagerhat, Satkhira, Jessore, Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Rajbari, Faridpur, Magura and Gopalganj.
Tank lorry driver Anawar Hossain of Magura said he would not carry any fuel oil deliveries taking the risk of being attacked by pro-blockade and hartal supporters, and added that he would make deliveries only when the political situation became normal.
Because of the current political turmoil, continuous blockade and hartals, the dealers are feeling insecure to continue their business. As a result, the government has been incurring huge loss as far the revenue earning is concerned.
Abdullah Rashed, Padma Oil Company depot manager, said not a single litre of petroleum products had been sold in last one and half months. This depot usually sell at least six lakh litres of petrol, octane and diesel every day if there is no strikes called by the political parties in the name of movement, he said.
Ibrahim Hamidur Rahaman, assistant general manager of the company, said dealers were not buying fuel oil from his depot because of security risk in highways during strikes called by the political parties.
Manager of Meghna Oil Company Mohiuddin Ahmed Chowdhury said his business had been absolutely dull because of continuous blockade programmes sponsored by the BNP-led 18-party alliance. Only 14,000 litres of fuel oil could be transported to some mills of Khalishpur Industrial belt through river routes with huge risk, he added.