Dealers in Gaibandha say they are getting much less than their demand as stocks are not replenished in the two floating fuel depots at Balashi in Gaibandha and Chilmari in Kurigram districts.

Bagabari fuel depot, the largest in northern districts, is also supplying less as oil barge can not reach it due to emergence of numerous shoals in the Jamuna river.

They said every day a large number of tanker lorries return disappointed from the depots.

Kerosene is now selling at up to Tk 30 in rural areas, they claimed.

They claimed that a section of mid-level traders are hoarding diesel and kerosene and realising higher prices from buyers.

They also claimed that large quantities of diesel are being smuggled out. The smugglers get Tk 30 or more per litre, they said.

However, Senior Vice-President of Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers Association, Shajada Anowerul Kadir said the crisis will end within a week as emergency supplies of diesel are coming from Kuwait.

Other sources here said 30,000 tons of diesel reached Chittagong port on Feb 26 and another consignment reached on February 28. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation is importing four lakh tonnes of refined diesel from Kuwait, they said.