Potato harvesting, storage, boro cultivation and paddy planting are going on in full swing in the agricultural area of ​​Tanor Upazila. Farmers are running from one pump to another to get oil for the agricultural machinery used in these agricultural works. When they get news that oil is being supplied at the pump, farmers and motorcycle drivers rush to that pump. Long lines of farmers with motorcycles and bhutbhutis and oil containers in hand can be seen in front of the pump since dawn before the oil supply starts. In addition to verbal disputes to get oil, there are also incidents of small fights including shouting and pushing.

It has been learned from those concerned that due to the fear of an oil crisis in Bangladesh due to the US-Iran war, many fuel oil users, including farmers in Tanore, like those across the country, have started collecting and storing oil. As a result, the pumps are failing to supply fuel oil as per the demand of the customers. The pumps that used to sell oil for one car every 10 to 15 days are running out of oil on the day the oil arrives. To meet the demand, the pumps are providing oil at a price of Tk 200 to Tk 300 or Tk 500 compared to the supply of oil. On Sunday afternoon, a visit to the M/s Biswas Filling Station in the Mundumala Municipal area of ​​Tanore showed that the long queue of motorcycles was being supplied with petrol at a price of Tk 300 each, but there was no octane. On the other hand, in addition to the long queue of bhutbhuti and trolleys, the farmers have also kept a long queue of power trailers and agricultural machinery containers. Diesel is being supplied at a price of Tk 500. As this continues, even though the fuel runs out at 3 pm, there are still hundreds of motorcycles and trucks, and fifty farmers with pots in their hands, waiting in line to buy fuel.

A farmer named Abdus Samad came to the Biswas Filling Station in Mundumala, about 15 kilometers from Billi village in Kalma UP of Tanor Upazila, with a jar of oil in his hand. We spoke to him at 3 pm. He said, I came to the pump at 6 am after hearing the news of the oil supply, but I have not received any oil yet. He said that even before that, hundreds of farmers were standing in line with their jars. He also said that if they do not get oil for their tractors and trolleys for farming in the fields, cultivation will stop. He saw a line of more than fifty jars in front of him. Hundreds of motorcycle drivers who had been waiting in line for 4 to 5 hours for oil suddenly got excited after the news of the oil running out. During this time, unexpected incidents were also seen attacking the police members deployed earlier in the night. At one point, after checking the oil tank, the drivers with the motorcycles returned. Shortly after this, the diesel ran out. At this time, more than fifty farmers returned without oil and with empty containers. At this time, disappointment appeared on the faces of the farmers.

Babul Hossain, who came from Khadi Kalya in Badhai UP, said that the oil for the trolley to store the potatoes after harvesting and the tractor to cultivate the land for planting boro has run out. He came at 7 am and the oil supply started at 8 am and it is now 3 pm. He has not received the oil yet, and if he cannot get the oil, his agricultural work is being disrupted, he said. Abdul Karim, a farmer from Mundumala area, said that he stood in line with the jarkin before the Fajr prayers and got the oil worth Tk 500 after waiting for about 8 hours. Khairul Islam, owner of Mundumala Biswas Filling Station, said, we used to get oil filled with cars earlier, but now we get oil once or twice a week, which is one-third of what it was before. Since 8 am, farmers are being given diesel oil worth Tk 500 each, which is much less than the demand. He said that hundreds of farmers have been standing in line since the night after the news of the oil supply. He also said that hundreds of farmers are returning home without getting oil despite standing in long lines. He called for an increase in the supply of oil for farmers.

Saifullah Ahmed, Upazila Agriculture Officer of Tanor, said, “We are constantly in touch with the Upazila Executive Officer and trying to increase the supply of oil to alleviate the suffering of farmers.” He said, “Now, farmers are working in full swing, harvesting and transporting potatoes, as well as planting boro. That is why farmers are rushing to the pump for oil. I hope the supply will be increased. It will take another 10/15 days to harvest, transport and plant boro.” He also said that agricultural production will be disrupted due to the oil crisis. However, he also said that farmers are suffering.

Tanor Upazila Executive Officer Naima Khan said, “We are constantly contacting the DC Sir and other concerned parties to increase the supply of oil for agricultural machinery to the farmers of Tanor Upazila, the head of agriculture, and we are making demands to increase the allocation of diesel. We hope that the supply will be increased. We have also instructed the owners of all 4 pumps in the upazila to supply oil to the farmers properly,” she said.

Md. Ramzan Ali

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