Editorial
An artificial fuel crisis
Resolve it without ado
FUEL distributors and the tank-lorry association have gone for an indefinite strike since Tuesday, demanding cancellation of rationing in the supply of petroleum products. We are highly concerned about the strike and its possible impact on the consumers amongst the general public and others. Uninterrupted and adequate fuel supply is linked to our overall economic activities on a day-to-day basis, whether agricultural, industrial or otherwise. The strike has already disrupted life in no small measure.As we see it, the dispute that led to the this wildcat strike is based on claims and counter claims between the tank-lorry owners association including the fuel distributors and the supplying companies under the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). The dealers and distributors assert that there is a shortage of about 40 percent in the existing supply considering the increase in demand over time. The BPC, on the other hand, says that the sale has increased by 5.34 percent reflecting the rise in consumption recorded during the month of August 2006. In other words, if anything, the demand has increased by 5.34 percent. There is no rationing in supply of petroleum to the distributors and dealers, the BPC asserts claiming that the stock position of petroleum products, including diesel, in the country, is "satisfactory." Since authentic information is hard to come by, whatever little we have, makes us believe that the truth must lie somewhere between the two versions, one by the BPC and the other by the strikers. However, the onus is on the government and the concerned agencies to address the issue on an urgent basis; for left to itself, the conflict will only fester with the communications suffering and dealing a body blow to normal economic activities which we can ill afford at this juncture.
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