Bangladesh’s government has instructed district administrations across the country to strengthen oversight of fuel supply and distribution in a bid to restore discipline in the petroleum market and prevent irregularities.
The directive was issued by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit during an online consultation meeting on Sunday focused on improving management of fuel supply and marketing.
Senior government officials joined the meeting virtually, including the Cabinet Secretary, the Public Administration Secretary and district commissioners from across the country.
During the meeting, the state minister outlined a series of measures aimed at improving monitoring and transparency in the fuel distribution chain. District administrations have been instructed to verify daily opening and closing fuel stocks at depots and submit regular reports, while ensuring that fuel allocated from depots reaches petrol stations as scheduled.
Officials were also directed to oversee the distribution of fuel to all types of customers, including petrol pump dealers, agency dealers, packed-point distributors and direct buyers.
Authorities will be required to investigate any petrol station closures and determine the reasons behind them, while double-checking supply records with fuel depots. Measures were also announced to prevent illegal stockpiling, strengthen security at oil depots and stop fuel smuggling.
District officials have additionally been instructed to ensure that petrol stations do not sell fuel above the official price, with the minister calling for strict penalties in cases of violations. Surveillance at the district level is also set to be increased.
The minister said the government was working to ensure that energy shortages do not worsen the difficulties faced by the public and urged officials to carry out their responsibilities with greater vigilance.
He also called on district administrations to help enforce new energy-saving measures, including banning decorative lighting at shops and commercial establishments, maintaining air-conditioning temperatures at 25°C or above, and switching off illuminated signboards once shops close.
The energy-saving steps were agreed earlier at a meeting at the Power Division chaired by the state minister, attended by representatives from major business organisations including the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Earlier, the minister also held discussions with leaders of the Petrol Pump Owners Association of Bangladesh, urging them to cooperate in maintaining a stable fuel supply. Association leaders said they were optimistic that coordinated discussions and swift government action would help restore order in the sector.