Price of kerosene has shot up in Gaibandha.

In remote village areas of the district kerosene is being sold at Tk 22-24 per litre. Dealers and retailers of kerosene oil, ignoring a government decision, have enhanced the price of kerosene on the plea of short supply.

Price-hike of kerosene, diesel and petrol will keep an adverse effect on IRRI-boro cultivation in the entire northern region. This is because irrigation is being affected due to this phenomenon.

At present kerosene contaminated fuel oil is on sale here including all other districts in the northern region. Because of contaminated diesel and petrol, owners of motor vehicles and irrigation engines fear damage to the engines.

Unscrupulous traders are mixing low cost fuel with oil of comparatively high price to earn windfall profit.

Senior vice-president of Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers Association Shahjada Anwarul Kabir informed that adulteration of fuel oil is an old problem, but fuel consumers always blame owners of fueling station. He further told that adulteration of fuel oil occurs at five points in the distribution channel.

Although Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has taken mea-

sures against contamination of petrol and diesel, yet the price of kerosene has shot up.

Different political alliances including Awami League, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) have been continuing their movement against the price-hike of fuel oil and LP gas cylinder. The parties are holding processions and protest meetings regularly.

Price-hike of diesel oil will adversely affect the output of IRRI-boro crops. Diesel oil is an essential prerequisite to IRRI-boro farming in the northern districts. Farmers in the flood prone areas solely depend on irrigation while producing crops.

Without adequate irrigation facilities none can expect minimum output of boro crops in this region.

Growers here will have to depend on bank loan or loan from local money lenders who demand high interest rate to cope with the situation.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), there are 1000 deep tube-wells, one floating pump, 7,000 low lift pumps and 41,000 power tillers which are in service in the northern region. Besides, farmers in this region possess 3 lakh 80 thousand shallow tube-wells.

Price hike of diesel oil is likely to reduce command areas of IRRI-boro farming in the northern districts.