NILPHAMARI, Mar 24: Motorcyclists and vehicle owners in Nilphamari are struggling to find petrol as the district faces an acute fuel shortage, leading to tension and violence at filling stations.
In Jaldhaka Upazila, a clash broke out at Sumaiya Filling Station in Khutamara Union on Sunday night over petrol being filled into bottles. The altercation left 15 people injured, and both sides have filed complaints at the local police station.
A survey of ten petrol pumps in the district headquarters revealed that most were closed, and many had no fuel to sell. By late afternoon, Bhai Bhai Filling Station received 2,000 liters of petrol, which was distributed among vehicles.
Residents voiced frustration over the scarcity. Sohag Islam, a local from Ramganj in Tupamari Union, said, "I visited several pumps but could not get petrol. At Bhai Bhai Pump, over 500 motorcycles had queued. I managed to buy fuel worth only 100 taka."
Filling station owner Mahmud Chowdhury Nawab of Mukta Filling Station described the situation as dire. "Fuel is unavailable, yet thousands of people come to pumps every day. Even when 2,000 liters arrive, it barely meets demand," he said.
Ekramul Haque, General Secretary of the Nilphamari Petrol Pump Owners Association, added, "We are in extreme trouble. Depots are not supplying fuel. Daily demand is 10-15,000 liters, but we receive only 2,000 liters. Some pump owners have even faced attacks due to the shortage."
Local resident Tayeb Ali Sarkar of Baripara said he did not ride his motorcycle because of the crisis. "I went to Bhai Bhai Pump in the afternoon, saw hundreds of motorcycles waiting, and returned without fuel," he said.
Superintendent of Police Sheikh Zahidul Islam confirmed that authorities are monitoring the situation and holding meetings with pump owners to resolve the issue.
