According to reports, a full conversion would save the government about Tk 5 crore, a big sum as it is, the real import of such an action lies in leading others to take the option. How would the government explain such a waste on fuel, especially when there are alternatives? More importantly, why has the government not taken any action against those who have been reportedly delaying the process? If some groups working at various ministries are so powerful that they could even resist the process of conversion for their petty personal gains, then governance has surely touched a new low there. It is a shame that the energy ministries' repeated reminders to different ministries that they meet the deadline fell flat on the audience.

Earlier there were apprehensions especially since the city did not have adequate number of gas filling stations that conversion in the private sector might hurtle along. But the situation has changed. Now there are many filling stations in various parts of the city; the queues of vehicles outside the stations are getting smaller and smaller. We urge the government to identify the unscrupulous elements in various ministries who allegedly stole petrol and diesel and sold those off surreptitiously. Enough is enough. The authorities should wake up from their slumber immediately. The employees who are scuttling a good project must be shown that they can not carry on with their illegal business and waste public money for their own vested interests.