Petrol pump owners threaten to shut operations nationwide

The petrol pump owners have threatened to shut down their operations nationwide if the government fails to ensure security and stabilize fuel supplies.

The announcement came from an emergency press conference in the city on Wednesday, where leaders of the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners’ Association outlined growing unrest at filling stations following the introduction of rationing measures.

Association president Mohammad Nazmul Haque alleged that the government’s contradictory stance-claiming adequate reserves while restricting supply-has fueled panic among consumers.

“People are rushing to pumps, filling tanks to the brim, and creating long queues and disorder. This dual messaging has triggered confusion and fear,” he told reporters.

Pump owners reported incidents of violence, including a stabbing of a worker in Sunamganj, as tensions rise over reduced supply.

They allege that despite official instructions to cut distribution by 10 per cent compared to 2025 levels, actual reductions are far more, although the number of vehicles and fuel demand have surged by nearly 30 per cent.

The association also criticised new rules requiring ride-share motorcycles to present documents to receive limited fuel, warning that such measures could spark further chaos at crowded stations.

Owners expressed anger at mobile court operations, saying they are being publicly humiliated under the guise of monitoring.

Additional pressure is mounting from sectors such as agriculture and urban generators, with farmers reportedly struggling to secure fuel for irrigation pumps.

To address the crisis, the association presented an eight-point demand, including deployment of army personnel alongside police at filling stations, equal supply for all pumps, increased distribution through marketing companies, and strict action against illegal stockpiling.