Petrol pump wait drops
Waiting times at petrol pumps have eased somewhat following the withdrawal of fuel rationing, but supply shortages and public anxiety continue ahead of Eid, with long queues and intermittent closures reported across Dhaka and other regions.
Despite increased dispatches from depots operated by the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), filling station owners say supplies remain insufficient. Many outlets are informally rationing sales or running out of stock within hours.
At several stations in the capital, queues of vehicles stretched across intersections ahead of Eid. While some stations sold fuel without restriction, others imposed limits per vehicle due to supply constraints.
“I stood in line for nearly an hour, and then they allowed me to buy fuel worth only Tk 200,” said Abul Hossain, a motorcyclist in Rajarbagh. Station operators echoed similar concerns. “We are not receiving fuel in line with demand, so we are distributing smaller quantities,” said Md Mozammel Hossain, a cashier.
The government lifted a nine-day rationing system on Sunday, introduced earlier to curb panic buying amid Middle East tensions. Since then, fuel dispatches have increased, though not sufficiently to meet demand.
According to BPC data, diesel sales rose to 16,164 tonnes on Sunday, compared with around 9,000 tonnes during rationing. Average daily demand typically stands at about 12,000 tonnes. However, panic buying had earlier pushed consumption to around 25,000 tonnes per day.
A BPC official said demand remains unusually high even after the withdrawal of restrictions.
A similar trend is seen in petrol and octane. Octane sales reached 1,698 tonnes on Sunday, well above the earlier cap of 913 tonnes, while petrol sales rose to 1,712 tonnes, exceeding the previous limit of 1,070 tonnes.
Fuel distribution is managed by state-owned firms—Padma Oil Company, Meghna Petroleum Limited and Jamuna Oil Company Limited—through a network of around 2,500 filling stations. However, operators report inconsistencies in allocation.
“One of our 13,500-litre tankers received only 5,000 litres,” said a station owner from the southwest. “It is difficult to meet demand under such conditions.”
At Binimoy Filling Station in central Dhaka, fuel stocks were exhausted by noon despite earlier rationing. “We were limiting sales to 5 litres for motorcycles and 10 litres for cars, but supplies ran out quickly,” said an employee.
Even stations maintaining regular sales expect shortages. “We are supplying as usual, but stocks may not last the day,” said a station owner in Motijheel.
Industry insiders say consumer behaviour remains a key factor, as fears of a prolonged crisis have prompted many to fill tanks completely.
“Most customers want full tanks, which the current supply cannot support,” said Moin Uddin, a fuel dealers’ representative.
The situation follows rising tensions in the Middle East, raising concerns about global fuel supply. Bangladesh, which relies heavily on imports, is particularly vulnerable.
“Demand remains exceptionally high. Even increased supply is being depleted quickly,” said Sayed Sajjadul Karim of the Petrol Pump Owners Association.
Conditions vary outside Dhaka. In Chattogram, queues have shortened and supply appears relatively stable, while in Rajshahi several pumps have run dry or remained closed, forcing motorists to search multiple stations for fuel.
The situation is beginning to affect transport services ahead of Eid, with some operators reducing trips due to uncertainty over diesel availability, leading to delays for passengers.
BPC officials said current stocks include about 120,000 tonnes of diesel and 15,000 tonnes each of petrol and octane, with additional shipments expected. They expressed confidence that supply will stabilise soon.
However, conditions on the ground remain fragile. Although queues have eased in some areas, uneven distribution, sustained demand and lingering uncertainty mean the risk of shortages persists.
