State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit has said that the recent fuel shortage in the country was created by public anxiety and panic, adding that the concern will gradually subside over time.
The state minister made the remarks while speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Tuesday (March 10).
He said everyone is aware that a crisis is currently unfolding in the Middle East and that if the situation continues for a long time, it could turn into a global crisis.
“In reality, it is difficult for any single country to find a solution to this crisis on its own. The way out must be found through collective efforts,” he said.
The state minister said the current government is an elected one and therefore accountable to the people.
“From the very first day of assuming office, we have been trying to work with that sense of responsibility so that public suffering can be reduced, or at least kept within a tolerable level,” he said.
He added that the government has repeatedly said there is currently no shortage of fuel or electricity in Bangladesh, although long queues have recently been seen at filling stations.
“The question may arise: if there is no shortage, then why are there long queues? Our friends in the media—meaning you—have actually clarified this,” he said.
“Compared to the normal demand, we supplied two to three times more fuel during five days of the past week. Yet in many cases we could not reduce people’s anxiety, or the concern did not subside,” he added.
Calling the unusual demand unjustified, the state minister said it stemmed from anxiety, panic buying, or what he described as a lack of patriotism.
“We did not view it as something abnormal. Rather, we treated it as a natural reaction and tried to resolve it through normal processes,” he said.