Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday told Parliament that the fuel rationing system is no longer applicable to police and emergency services following a government decision to lift the restriction two days back.
“This embargo on police and other emergency agencies like ambulances and fire brigades has already been removed. We made the decision two days ago. This restriction was cleared two days ago,” he said.
The Prime Minister said this in response to concerns raised by BNP lawmaker Manirul Haque Chowdhury (Cumilla-6) over the impact of fuel rationing on law enforcement operations.
Raising the issue in the House, Manirul said a young customs officer was recently killed in Cumilla and when he asked police on Saturday about maintaining law and order, they informed him that night patrol operations are being hampered due to fuel shortages under the rationing system.
The veteran parliamentarian urged the government to immediately withdraw the rationing system for law enforcement agencies, warning that otherwise it could create a law-and-order crisis and disrupt the uninterrupted movement of people.
Responding to the concern, Tarique Rahman, also the Leader of House, said the government has already addressed the concern raised by the MP.
He expressed hope that there would be no further problem regarding their operations.