SHERPUR, BOGURA, Apr 5: Field operations and development monitoring in Bogura's Sherpur Upazila have ground to a halt as a crippling shortage of petrol and octane leaves government officials stranded.
More than a hundred staff members from the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Livestock, and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) rely on motorcycles to navigate the upazila's 10 unions. However, for the past week, local filling stations have been unable to meet demand, leaving officials queuing for hours only to leave empty-handed.
The impact on public services is becoming increasingly visible. Hedayetul Islam, a mechanic at the DPHE, noted that daily inspections of tube-wells and government installations are being disrupted.
Assistant Engineer Ripa Parvin echoed these concerns, stating that reaching remote villages has become nearly impossible without fuel.
The financial burden is also shifting onto the employees themselves. "I have to oversee projects in Simabari, Bhavanipur, and Bishalpur every day," said LGED Sub-Assistant Engineer Md Asabuddaula Biplob. "With no oil for my bike, I'm forced to hire CNGs using my own salary, which is putting a massive strain on my family's budget."
The crisis is also threatening the local rural economy. Livestock Officer Dr Nizaikazmir Rahman reported that volunteers providing veterinary care can no longer reach farmers' homes.
Similarly, Agriculture Extension Officer Zulfiqar Haider warned that without motorbikes-the primary mode of transport for field officers-farmers are being left without expert advice for their crops.
Upazila LGED Engineer Abdul Majid stressed the need for urgent administrative intervention. "The pace of government work is being sacrificed. We are paying for public transport out of our own pockets just to keep things moving, but this isn't sustainable," he said.
The lack of fuel is already being felt on the ground. Mazedur Rahman, Acting Chairman of Khamarkandi Union, remarked: "Even 20 days ago, you'd see officials from various departments regularly visiting the area. Now, they are nowhere to be seen."
With no immediate end to the fuel drought in sight, officials fear that the backlog of stalled development projects will only grow, leading to a much more complex crisis in the weeks to come.
