Oil crisis due to unethical business, not supply shortage: Mirza Fakhrul

The current fuel oil crisis in the country is not due to low supply but because of unethical business practices by certain individuals, Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said.

He made the remark at an event held at the Mirza Ruhul Amin auditorium in Thakurgaon town on Friday afternoon, April 24.

Fakhrul said the war between Iran and the US-Israel alliance has caused severe damage worldwide. "We in Bangladesh are also being severely affected. The price of fuel oil has increased."

Referring to long queues of motorcycles at petrol pumps, he noted that there is clearly a problem but insisted the issue is not a lack of fuel or supply cuts. "The problem is one of morality. Sadly, some people have started an unethical business that has become harmful for our country and our nation."

The minister said he has instructed the deputy commissioner to increase monitoring to ensure that no one can profit by selling oil illegally and engaging in corruption during a crisis.

Urging the public not to panic, Fakhrul said no one should encourage injustice. "Those who tell lies and spread false propaganda should not be encouraged. Unfortunately, a class of people has emerged in Bangladesh that wants to destabilise the country."

Addressing the Hindu community, the minister said they will participate in all development activities as they exercised their voting rights smoothly. He also urged madrasa students, teachers, and religious leaders to engage in positive politics and avoid creating divisions among religions.

Touching on development work in Thakurgaon, Fakhrul said preliminary work on a medical college has begun. A vice-chancellor will be appointed on Sunday to start the university's activities, while work on an engineering college and airport is also progressing.

The event was organised to distribute tin sheds, cheques and allocation letters for the rehabilitation of families affected by cyclones and hailstorms, as well as for the development of various social and religious institutions through LGED and the district council.