'There is no justification for long march'

BNP Acting Secretary General Adv Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said there is no justification for a long march over the ongoing fuel crisis, arguing that the supply disruptions stem from international tensions and war rather than any failure of the BNP government.

He said the situation was gradually becoming more manageable as the government explored alternative sources of fuel imports.

Rizvi made the remarks on Saturday while responding to journalists' questions after addressing a reunion and annual general meeting organised by the Rajshahi University Alumni Association (Dhaka) at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh auditorium in the capital.

He attributed the fuel crisis to the international situation, particularly the conflict between the United States and Iran.

"The crisis has emerged because of the international situation and the war. The US-Iran conflict has created this situation. Everyone knows that the region through which most of our fuel supplies are supposed to arrive is now caught in the midst of war and bombings, facing an extremely dangerous situation. No fuel can come from there. The government has to work under these circumstances," Rizvi said.

He said the government was exploring alternative sources of fuel imports and had already identified several options.

According to him, discussions were underway with countries including Myanmar and Indonesia, and fuel supplies from alternative sources had already begun arriving.

Rizvi also claimed that gas supply in Dhaka had become considerably more stable, while the overall situation regarding other fuels was gradually moving towards a manageable level.

Against this backdrop, he questioned the rationale behind organising a long march over the fuel crisis, maintaining that the government was already taking steps to address the supply disruptions.