Fuel panic leads to confusion, disorder and closure

An unusual rush to buy fuel has created chaos at fuel stations across the country, exposing the challenge facing the government in convincing the public that there is no shortage of energy supplies.

Long queues of motorcycles and private vehicles were seen at filling stations in Dhaka and Chattogram on Saturday as drivers rushed to secure fuel amid fears that the ongoing war in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt global oil supplies.

The situation has turned many petrol pumps into scenes of confusion, disorder and shutdown, even though officials repeatedly insist that there is sufficient fuel reserves and is securing additional supplies.

At Hasan Filling Station in the Taltola area of Agargaon in the capital, dozens of motorcycles formed several queues while a longer line of private cars stretched across the premises.

Drivers waited for hours as attendants tried to manage the surge in demand.

Abu Bakar, a motorcyclist, said he had to wait more than two hours before he was able to buy fuel worth Tk300.

“Everyone is worried about what might happen in the coming days,” he said. “After standing in line for so long, I could only get a small amount.”

Another motorcyclist, Hasan, said the worsening situation forced him to join the queue despite knowing it would take hours.

“My bike had almost no fuel left. I avoided the pumps for the last two days because the situation looked chaotic,” he said.

“But now I hear that some pumps are closing because they have run out. If I don’t get fuel today, I might have to push my bike,” he rued.

Similar scenes were reported at several other filling stations in the capital, where drivers moved from one pump to another in search of fuel.

Many pumps continued selling fuel late into the night to manage the unusually large number of customers. Even some pumps were closed after evening at Matijheel and other areas.

The hyper surge in demand has prompted authorities to impose restrictions on fuel purchases.

The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation on Friday set limits on how much fuel vehicles can buy during a single visit.

Under the directive, motorcycles can purchase up to two litres of fuel, private cars up to 10 litres, SUVs and microbuses between 20 and 25 litres, pickups and local buses between 70 and 80 litres, while long-distance buses, trucks and container vehicles can receive between 200 and 220 litres.

Officials say the measure was introduced to prevent hoarding and ensure that supplies are distributed fairly.

However, the restrictions appear to have triggered further panic buying, with many motorists rushing to fill their tanks before the situation worsens.

On an average day, filling stations sell around 12,000 to 13,000 tonnes of diesel. However, in recent days, daily sales have reportedly surpassed 20,000 tonnes.

This sharp increase seems to be fueled not by actual demand but by stockpiling.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has finalised the import of 280,000 tonnes of diesel, some of which has already begun arriving, while the rest is currently at sea or awaiting shipment.

Monir Hossain Chowdhury, joint secretary and head of the operation wing at the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, said Bangladesh’s monthly diesel demand is about 380,000 tonnes, while BPC currently holds more than 100,000 tonnes in stock.

Similar scenes of fuel panic were reported in other parts of the capital.

Even in the port city Chattogram, long queues were also reported at filling stations across the city.

At a station near the Gani Bakery intersection, vehicles lined up from inside the pump area to the roadside. Similar scenes were reported in areas such as Panchlaish, Sholoshohor, Oxygen and New Bridge.

Pump operators said the number of vehicles seeking fuel has nearly doubled compared with normal days.

Many drivers are insisting on filling their tanks completely, which slows down service and lengthens the queues.

The northern region is also facing a severe fuel supply crisis, with petrol station owners warning that the distribution system has “completely collapsed.”

The situation is especially critical in the Rangpur, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions, where supplies of petrol, octane, and diesel have been heavily disrupted. Drivers and riders were seen standing in long queues for hours to buy fuels.

However, fuel distributors, including state-owned companies, maintain that there is no supply shortage and that prices have not increased.

Drivers across the city admitted they were purchasing fuel mainly out of fear that the international crisis could disrupt shipments or drive up prices.

Despite the tension, state-owned fuel distributors maintain that supply remains stable.

Officials from major petroleum companies have urged the public not to believe rumours about shortages, warning that panic buying itself could create an artificial crisis.

As long as uncertainty over the Middle East conflict continues, reassuring citizens may prove as difficult as maintaining the fuel supply itself.

Officials said that Bangladesh has enough reserves. But the real test lies not only in securing fuel from abroad, but also in restoring public confidence at home.