The decision was taken at an urgent joint meeting of the leaders of Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers Association (BPDA), Bangladesh Tank-lorry Owners' Association (BTOA) and Bangladesh Tank-lorry Workers' Union (BTWU).

The government as part of its rationing policy provides only 3000 litres of petroleum to a petrol pump and allows a tank-lorry to carry 3000 litres of petroleum.

When the capacity of a tank-lorry is 9000 litres, carrying only 3000 litres does not even cover the transport cost, they said.

Leaders said the petrol pumps are provided only 50 per cent of their demand from the petroleum depots and agents were verbally directed to stop diesel supply resulting in serious diesel crisis in the country.

Due to increased generator dependency in the country's factories, shopping malls, offices and houses, as a consequence of frequent load sheddings, demand for diesel has risen threefold, they added.

They alleged that diesel is supplied to Fatulla and Godnail depots in Dhaka and other depots in Khulna, Barisal, Chandpur, Sylhet and Chittagong districts through rationing system.

Diesel crisis is worsening in the country's northern and southern regions too, they added.

President of BPDA Dhaka unit Mahabubur Rahman Chowdhury, Organising Secretary AKM Azizul Huq, BPDA General Secretary of Rajshahi Division Tofazzal Hossain Bhutto, Khulna Division General Secretary Gazi Hafizur Rahman, BTOA President Delwar Hossain Pradhan and General Secretary Hafizur Rahman, BTWU President Abdul Matin and General Secretary Akhter Hossain were present at the meeting.