While the supply of fuels should have been actually smoother during peak time Eid mobilities, it was the exact opposite that took place. To make matters worse, supply disruption occurred without any prior notice. We are constrained to say that there was either lack of planning or a deliberate attempt to create an artificial crisis with many raring in the wings to skim the cream in the black market.

But we have it on the authority of the president of Sylhet Division Petroleum Dealers, Agents and Distributors' Association that because of poor storage of Padma and Jamuna oil depots in Sylhet, the oil supply had almost come to a standstill sometime ago, so that there was an early warning of sorts. Nobody was apparently there to take the signal and do something positive about it. The question, therefore, arises as to what the BPC, the monopoly importer of fuel in the country has been doing to ensure that the supply line didn't face a crunch? Why did the storage capacity of Padma and Jamuna oil companies not improve in keeping with the increase in demands? Since the petrol pumps do not have the capacity to store five days' worth of petroleum products the stoppage of supply from the main depots evidently precipitated the crisis. On whose orders? The public have a right to know.

Will the energy ministry come out with a statement on the issue in a bid to allay public misgivings that must have arisen due to the unanticipated fuel crunch?