A diesel shortage has disrupted irrigation across Cox’s Bazar, leaving thousands of pumps idle and heightening concerns over Boro production and potential economic losses for farmers.
Local sources say around 4,000 irrigation pumps in the district are currently out of operation due to fuel scarcity and frequent load shedding, affecting crop fields at a crucial stage. The situation is particularly severe in Chakaria upazila.
Filling stations have either halted sales or are supplying fuel in limited quantities, forcing pump operators and transport workers to queue for hours. Many report being unable to secure sufficient diesel, delaying irrigation and slowing both agricultural and transport activities.
Data from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) show that Cox’s Bazar has 7,146 irrigation pumps across its upazilas, including Teknaf, Ukhia, Ramu, Eidgaon, Maheshkhali, Kutubdia, Pekua, Chakaria and Sadar. About 70% of these are diesel-powered, while the rest rely partly on electricity. However, fuel shortages combined with power outages have left a significant number of pumps non-functional.
However, the combined impact of fuel shortages and load shedding has left a large number of pumps non-functional, severely affecting irrigation.
Farmers in the Sonaichhari area of Ukhia in Cox’s Bazar, including Moktar Mia, Nurul Amin and Abul Khair, said that if irrigation is not ensured on time, rice yields will decline sharply. They fear this could lead to significant financial losses.
Meanwhile, the government maintains that the overall fuel supply in the country remains stable, but alleges that hoarding and black marketing by unscrupulous traders have created artificial shortages in some areas. Authorities have reportedly intensified drives to address the issue.
Dr Bimal Kumar Pramanik, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Cox’s Bazar, said the local administration has increased monitoring to keep the situation under control. He warned that unless normal fuel supply is restored quickly, agricultural production could suffer major losses.
