BPA demands ‘priority fuel supply’ for police personnel

The Bangladesh Police Association (BPA) has demanded priority fuel supply to police personnel at petrol pumps throughout the country.

The organisation of non-cadre police officers and members made the demand in a letter to the inspector general of police (IGP), which has also been published on its Facebook page.

It claims that a significant portion of police officers’ working hours is now being wasted while waiting in queues at fuel stations.

Members of the public are “disappointed” at officers when they attempt to step outside these lines to obtain fuel, it added.

Police cadre officers have the facility of government vehicles. A large part of police field officers and members depend on motorcycles.

Since the fuel crisis began, most petrol stations regularly run out of fuel, forcing people to wait 10 to 12 hours in queues at those that still have supply.

As a result, when someone attempts to bypass the line to obtain fuel, it often leads to obstruction, escalating from commotions to fights and even vandalism.

The letter says, “Police have been performing their duties as one of the most important emergency service providers of the state by maintaining law and order, ensuring public safety, suppressing crime, investigating cases, arresting suspects, conducting emergency operations, VIP security, traffic management, disaster relief, and providing 24-hour uninterrupted public services.

 “Most police members have to travel to different places urgently using private motorcycles, government vehicles, and requisitioned vehicles while performing their official duties. However, police members nowadays have to wait for hours in long lines alongside the general public to collect fuel at different fuel pumps across the country.

 “As a result, a large part of the valuable working hours of police members are being wasted waiting at the pumps and emergency service activities are being disrupted.”

The letter added, “There is a delay in performing many important duties, especially in drives to arrest suspects, emergency patrols, rapid presence during case investigation, and rapid response to disasters and accidents.

 “In many cases, when police members go outside the lines to collect fuel for urgent needs, they are facing unpleasant situations, public discontent, and even fines from mobile courts.”

The organisation described the situation as “sad and undesirable”.

With these details, it has appealed to police personnel assigned to government and private fuel stations across the country to take the necessary steps to provide fuel through separate lines or designated booths on a priority basis, subject to showing government identity cards.