Press conference of petrol and octane traders to protest against publication of misleading news

Naimul Islam Nayum

A private television and some mass media broadcast a misleading news about Ashraf Ali, an energy trader of Baliadangi Upazila of Thakurgaon, the agent of Padma Oil Company Limited. As a result, the company, which has been doing business with reputation for more than two centuries, has suffered losses.

About two lakh people of Baliadangi upazila are going to face shortage of petrol and octane due to temporary stoppage of fuel supply from the depot. Sumon, the son of fuel trader Ashraf Ali, told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that some mainstream media representatives came suddenly from the district and presented wrong information about diesel purchase and sale, which caused confusion. Wrong message sent to depot due to misrepresentation of fuel flow figures.

That’s why they stopped fuel supply. They have suffered a lot. Suman said in the press conference that his father has been selling fuel in this area for a long time as an agent of Padma Oil Company. Most of the upazila sold diesel, petrol and octane.

During the ongoing crisis, in coordination with the local administration, in April, 87,500 liters of diesel were bought and sold to protect the crops of the farmers. Also bought and sold Octane and Petrol 3 times in presence of Police and Executive Magistrate talking to administration, political leaders and media persons. But diesel figures have been misrepresented in the media by trying to show petrol-octane.

As a result of which the business has suffered extreme losses. “Furthermore, the media has shown unjournalism by showing the truck owned by others as someone else’s, an organization running like someone’s enterprise is non-existent. Ashraf Ali’s son Sumon strongly protested these news and called for the publication of factual news. Talking to the locals after the press conference, it is said that two filling stations in Baliadangi upazila and diesel supplied through agent Ashraf Ali-Upazila agricultural work and fuel needs of cars are met with petrol and octane.

Agent Ashraf Ali fulfills the most demand than the filling stations. The supply of diesel during the crisis has enabled farmers to protect their crops. Suman also said in the press conference,My statements have been truncated in the media. Which amounts to unjournalism. We respect the media. However, he requested to spread the factual news.