Fuel crisis grips nationwide
A shortage of fuel supply at filling stations across several districts of Bangladesh has caused significant hardship for drivers since the day after Eid al-Fitr. Many petrol pumps have remained closed due to a lack of petrol and octane.
Along the Panchagarh–Dinajpur regional highway, 43 out of 46 filling stations across a 93-kilometre stretch have been shut down.
In Kurigram District, all 20 fuel stations have run out of fuel and have remained closed since Sunday. As a result, thousands of customers across the district have been forced to return without fuel, expressing frustration over the situation.
People associated with filling stations say depots are supplying only about half of the required petrol, while octane supply has completely stopped. Diesel is comparatively available, but only about 60–70 percent of demand is being met. Facing angry customers and unable to provide fuel, many station owners have decided to keep their pumps closed.
More than half of the 44 filling stations in Rajshahi are closed, while the rest have little or no fuel available. As a result, drivers are returning empty-handed after visiting pumps.
Local journalist Mahi Ilahi said he visited around 20 pumps across the district and the city from Monday morning to afternoon but failed to find fuel anywhere.
Drivers in Panchagarh District, Thakurgaon District and Dinajpur District have been suffering due to the lack of fuel supply since the day after Eid.
Of the 46 filling stations along the Panchagarh–Dinajpur regional highway, 25 stations between Panchagarh and the Thakurgaon border remain closed due to the absence of petrol and octane.
Several petrol pumps in Chattogram have been facing severe fuel shortages over the past few days, leaving many stations either partially stocked or completely closed. Some pumps have octane but no diesel, while others have diesel but no octane, causing serious inconvenience for drivers.
According to sources from the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), the Chattogram division has 383 petrol pumps, 799 agent distributors, and 255 packed point dealers.
In Mymensingh, most filling stations have been closed since the morning of Eid, causing severe difficulties for drivers, particularly motorbike riders. A few stations briefly opened over the weekend to provide fuel.
Saiful Filling Station, near the city’s police lines, remained closed from the morning of Eid until Monday evening. Manager Kamrul Hasan said, “Our fuel stock was exhausted the night before Eid.
The station has been closed since the morning of Eid due to lack of fuel. We will reopen once supplies are received.”
A severe fuel crisis has gripped Kurigram, forcing the closure of 20 petrol stations from Sunday, as every station ran completely out of petrol, diesel, and octane. Thousands of customers were left frustrated, unable to buy fuel, highlighting the extreme inconvenience caused by the shortage.
The fuel crisis has also severely affected Bogura, where more than half of the 72 filling stations across 12 upazilas have run out of petrol, diesel, and octane. This has disrupted transportation and left drivers facing extreme difficulties.
Mizanur Rahman Ratan, president of the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association, Rajshahi Division, told reporters that the shortage is caused by irregular fuel supply. “Some fuel is arriving today, which should slightly ease the situation,” he said.
The ongoing fuel crisis in Bangladesh continues to disrupt transportation across multiple districts. In Rangpur, more than half of the 40 filling stations are out of fuel, with at least 20 pumps officially closed as of Monday evening.
Station officials reported that supply trucks arriving in Parbatipur failed to deliver any fuel, forcing closures from midday onward. Frustrated drivers expressed anger at the lack of monitoring by the district administration.
In Khulna, 36 out of the district’s petrol pumps are currently shut. Mohibul Hasan, vice president of the Khulna District Petrol Pump Owners Association, explained that all pumps are under strain because supplies from the depot are insufficient to meet demand.
Sultan Mahmud Pintu, president of the Khulna Divisional Tank Lorry Owners Association, added that even when banks remain open for payments, depot deliveries fall short, and pumps quickly run out of fuel.
Consequently, keeping pumps operational has become difficult until new deliveries arrive.
The situation in Barishal is similarly severe.
Most petrol pumps along the highways of the city and surrounding ten upazilas are unable to supply diesel, petrol, or octane consistently. Staffs are marking pumps with notices like “Diesel-Octane/Petrol Not Available.”
Officials said that pumps cannot operate for more than 12 hours within a 24-hour period due to low stock. Open pumps often face angry customers, disputes, and even threats against staff, making temporary closures necessary.
