Fuel Must Be Purchased Through App

Prime Minister’s Advisor on Information and Broadcasting Affairs, Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, announced that a dedicated mobile application is being developed for purchasing fuel. He shared this information with journalists during a briefing on the government's ongoing activities and contemporary issues at the Information Department of the Secretariat on Tuesday, April 7. Information Secretary Mahbuba Farzana and Chief Information Officer Md. Yakub Ali were present at the press conference.

Presenting a sector-wise list of development plans and implementations, the advisor noted that following the introduction of free Wi-Fi at Dhaka and Cox's Bazar railway stations, as well as Cox's Bazar, Rajshahi, and Saidpur airports, work is currently underway to extend this service to the international airports in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet, and to Kamalapur Railway Station. To digitalize postal mail management, a track-and-trace system is being implemented within 180 days, while activities to launch 14 fulfillment centers are ongoing to facilitate the efficient delivery of e-commerce products.

Addressing global challenges in the energy sector, Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman stated that while many countries have increased fuel prices, the Bangladesh government has not yet done so. However, he mentioned that whether fuel prices will be adjusted next month remains dependent on the evolving situation.

The advisor clarified that there is no absolute shortage of petrol or octane, though there are some supply chain issues due to the global context. He noted that certain quarters are attempting to destabilize the situation through illegal hoarding and smuggling. He emphasized that the crisis is not severe enough to justify the current long queues and identified illegal stockpiling and trafficking attempts as the primary causes of the temporary shortage.

To combat these issues, he announced the development of a fuel-purchasing app, stating that all future purchases must be made through it. This system will maintain records of how much fuel is being purchased and the timing of those transactions. 

Regarding the power sector, the advisor mentioned that while there is no electricity shortage, the uncontrolled movement of auto-rickshaws in cities cannot continue. He raised concerns about the fitness of these dangerous vehicles and the lack of training among drivers, citing frequent accidents. He added that the government is considering safer alternatives for this mode of transport.

Touching upon economic transitions, he stated that Bangladesh is not yet ready to graduate from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) list. Due to the current global situation and economic crisis, the government has no immediate plans to proceed with the LDC graduation.

Furthermore, the Advisor on Information and Broadcasting Affairs announced that any corruption during the interim government’s tenure would be scrutinized. These activities will gain momentum once the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is reconstituted. He clarified that any corruption occurring under the current government would also be investigated alongside previous allegations.

Addressing the health sector, he stated that the current measles vaccine shortage is not the fault of the present administration but resulted from the negligence of the previous government. Terming the deaths of children from measles as tragic, he assured that the government is taking measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. Vaccination programs have already begun in 30 high-risk areas, with a nationwide campaign set to launch on May 3.

Finally, he informed that a budget of 1,150 crore BDT has been allocated for the Farmer's Card initiative to support the agricultural sector.

DBTech/IH/MUIM