Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood -File photo

SANGSAD BHABAN, April 19, 2026 (BSS) - Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood today said that a group of unscrupulous traders are illegally hoarding and black-marketing fuel oil in different parts of the country.

As a result, he also said, an artificial fuel oil crisis is being created at pumps. “No instructions have been given by the government regarding the provision of providing Tk 200 fuel or painting of motorbikes. However, an artificial crisis is being created due to panic buying and hoarding,” he said.

The Energy Minister said these in response to a starred tabled question from opposition MP from Netrokona-5 Masum Mustafa in the Jatiya Sangsad.

Iqbal said that there is no fuel crisis in the country while the statement made by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam in parliament in this regard is correct.

The Energy Minister further said that in order to maintain normal fuel supply, district, upazila administrations and BPC tag officers have been appointed across the country.

Every day, he said that illegal hoarders are being brought under the law by appointed magistrates and jail and fines are being imposed.

“The law enforcement agencies are continuing their activities to prevent hoarding and black marketing,” he said. 

In addition, he added, awareness activities have been taken up by local administrations.

So far, the Minister said, some 3,510 cases have been filed in 9,116 campaigns through the operation of mobile courts across the country, a fine of Tk 1,56,09,650 has been realized and 5,42,000 liters of fuel oil have been recovered.

He said that in order to bring greater transparency in fuel oil marketing at the consumer level, the government has introduced fuel cards on an experimental basis at some filling stations in Dhaka city.

“If the trials are successful, it will be implemented nationwide. The fuel card will store the information about the fuel oil collection of the customers.”