SATKHIRA, Mar 26 (V7N) – The Satkhira district administration has abruptly canceled its decision to mandate a special fuel card for purchasing oil, just hours after the announcement triggered widespread public criticism. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Ripon Biswas confirmed the withdrawal of the order on Thursday, stating that while the initiative was originally intended to bring "discipline" to fuel distribution, it has been scrapped in light of the negative public reaction.

The initial directive, issued on Wednesday night, had introduced a rigorous set of requirements for motorcycle riders seeking fuel. Under the now-defunct rules, no motorcycle was to be supplied with fuel without a Fuel Card signed and sealed by the Deputy Commissioner. Furthermore, the administration had restricted fuel sales to a specific window from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and made it mandatory for riders to carry their driving licenses, registration papers, tax tokens, and wear helmets. The order also completely banned the sale of fuel in loose containers such as plastic bottles or drums.

The move was widely perceived as an localized extension of the national fuel rationing measures introduced earlier this month due to supply volatility caused by the Middle East conflict. However, critics and local residents argued that the bureaucratic hurdle of collecting cards from the DC office or Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) would cause immense suffering to ordinary citizens and commuters. Following the cancellation, fuel stations in Satkhira have been instructed to resume normal operations, though safety requirements such as wearing helmets remain encouraged.

The withdrawal comes at a time when the central government has already begun lifting nationwide rationing to ensure smooth travel during the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday rush. With the arrival of new oil tankers at Chattogram Port, fuel supply is expected to stabilize across the country, rendering local restrictive measures unnecessary.

END/SMA/AJ