Farmers in Kalukhali under Rajbari district are facing severe hardship as prolonged queues and fuel shortages at a local filling station are severely disrupting irrigation activities during the peak cultivation period.
At the Sheikh Filling Station in Mohonpur, farmers were seen waiting in long queues on Sunday (5 April), carrying drums and containers in the hope of obtaining diesel for their irrigation pumps. Many reported waiting for hours without receiving adequate quantities of fuel, leaving their agricultural operations stalled at a critical time.
The situation has created widespread concern among farmers who depend heavily on diesel-powered irrigation systems, particularly amid ongoing electricity shortages that have already affected pumping schedules.
Key Issues Reported by Farmers
| Problem Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Long queues | Farmers waiting several hours for fuel |
| Diesel shortage | Inadequate supply at filling station |
| Administrative requirement | Need for agricultural officer’s signature |
| Irrigation disruption | Delay in watering newly sown crops |
| Economic impact | Increased transport costs and wasted labour |
Local farmer Md Yunus Ali described the situation as extremely distressing, saying that he is forced to spend hours in queues, often at the cost of his farming duties.
“We already suffer from load shedding. On top of that, we rely on diesel pumps for irrigation. I leave my work and stand in line for hours, but still cannot get enough fuel,” he said.
Another farmer, Md Hossain Ali Mondal, highlighted additional bureaucratic hurdles, claiming that farmers are now required to obtain signatures from agricultural officials before purchasing diesel.
“We are facing even more difficulties due to long queues and the requirement of an agricultural officer’s approval. We have already sown seeds, but we are unable to irrigate properly,” he explained.
A third farmer, Md Jilal Sheikh, expressed frustration over the financial burden of travelling to collect fuel without guaranteed supply.
“We hire transport, leave our work, and come here for fuel. But if we do not get enough diesel, it is nothing but a loss for us. No one seems to care about our suffering,” he said.
Farmers also reported that irrigation schedules have been severely disrupted, raising fears of reduced crop yields if the situation continues. With the agricultural season in full swing, delays in watering are expected to impact both productivity and income.
Filling Station’s Explanation
Officials at Sheikh Filling Station acknowledged the crisis, stating that they are also struggling due to irregular fuel supply. According to them, the quantity of diesel received does not meet local demand, and stocks are often exhausted shortly after arrival.
They added that distribution is being carried out as quickly as possible, with assistance from law enforcement agencies to maintain order during fuel distribution.
Despite these efforts, the gap between supply and demand remains significant, leaving farmers frustrated and increasingly anxious about the upcoming harvest season.
Government Response
Rajbari District Commissioner Sultana Akter stated that authorities have already instructed filling station operators to ensure adequate diesel supply for irrigation purposes.
“We have directed fuel station authorities to ensure that farmers receive sufficient diesel for irrigation pumps,” she said.
However, farmers say immediate intervention is needed, warning that continued delays could seriously threaten agricultural output in the region.