BNP’s countrywide unidentified blockade has hit the Boro rice cultivation badly in the northern districts as fuel needed for irrigation is depleting.
Seedling transplantation has already started, however, the transports carrying fuels are not being able to enter Rajshahi from the capital because of the ongoing blockade programme.
The existing fuel in the local filling stations soon might fall short to meet the demand, fear the farmers.
The supply chain of fuel was broken. The lorries containing fuel could not enter Rajshahi from Dhaka last week, as a result, the shortage of diesel was acute at the moment, said a number of fuel traders.
Only a few diesel-laden lorries are entering the city under police protection which is not enough to meet the demands, said Sohel Rana, manager of Nayan Filling Station in Rajshahi.
“We are facing a hard time to deal with a huge number of farmers pouring in every day from Chapainawabganj, Nawgaon and other northern districts for diesel. They are returning empty handed mostly,” said Sobuj, an employee of Afrin Filling Station.
Tuhin, owner of Shaheen Filling Station located in Tanore upazila said the lorries could not ply in the northern districts in fear of attack by blockade supporters, therefore, fuels were not reaching the filling stations located in the remote areas. Abdul Mazid, in-charge of Bagabari Oil Depot, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were supplying four to five lakh litres of diesel per day, however, if the situation persists, an acute crisis might occur soon.
According to the owners of different filling stations in Rajshahi, the demand of diesel in the northern zone of the country is around 22 lakh litre per day which turns double during the season of Boro rice cultivation.
They urged the political parties to come forward to resolve the situation and ensure unhindered Boro rice cultivation in the area.
