NAOGAON, Apr 7: The Naogaon District administration has launched a mobile-based 'Fuel App' to regulate fuel sales and prevent black marketing, illegal hoarding and repeated purchases. The initiative, introduced on Sunday, is being piloted across 11 filling stations in Sadar Upazila.
Under the new system, customers must register their purchases through the app, which records vehicle licence numbers, mileage and fuel quantities. A motorcycle can receive a maximum of fuel worth Tk 500 at one time, and only after covering at least 125 kilometres can it refuel again. Officials say the system will ensure transparency and accountability.
However, many customers have complained of delays. Long queues were seen at filling stations, with data entry slowing down the distribution process. Some bikers reported waiting for hours in the sun, while others welcomed the move, saying it would stop repeated purchases and profiteering.
Fuel station managers said the app had already reduced irregularities, though the process takes longer. UNO Ibnul Abedin noted that the system would help detect illegal hoarding, with tag officers monitoring each station. District Commissioner Md Saiful Islam said the app was designed to block syndicates who repeatedly bought fuel under different identities to resell at inflated prices.
He admitted there may be initial inconveniences but assured that server capacity and operational efficiency would be improved. "Once fully operational, the app will ensure transparency and discipline in the fuel sector," he said, adding that the system would gradually be expanded to all filling stations in the district.
Experts believe the technology-driven initiative could significantly reduce long-standing irregularities in the fuel sector if implemented effectively. They stressed the need for swift measures to ease customer suffering during the transition.
This marks the first time a district administration in Bangladesh has introduced a digital system to monitor fuel sales, signalling a shift towards stricter oversight in the sector.
