Fuel hoarding worsens crisis, long queues persist

Md. Harun (a pseudonym), a motorcyclist, filled his bike and, after keeping what he needed, stored some fuel for later and sold Tk 600 worth to another rider for Tk 1,000. Like him, other unscrupulous individuals are collecting fuel beyond their personal needs from various filling stations, worsening the ongoing fuel crisis in Bangladesh.

Despite adequate national reserves, Bangladesh is grappling with a severe fuel crisis, with long queues at petrol stations and panic buying fueled by fears of supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. Officials say the problem is being exacerbated by illegal storage and over-collection of fuel by both individuals and some filling station owners.

According to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, nearly 469,042 litres of illegally stored fuel have been recovered through 7,342 mobile court drives conducted between March 3 and April 7. Diesel accounted for the largest share at 352,047 litres, followed by 36,621 litres of octane and 80,374 litres of petrol.

Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury said 3,111 cases have been filed, fines totaling Tk 1.44 crore imposed, and 36 individuals sentenced to prison. He emphasized that operations will continue to curb illegal storage and maintain stable fuel supply.

Fuel pumps are selling limited amounts—Tk 600 for motorcycles, Tk 1,500 for cars, and Tk 2,000 for SUVs—and queues often stretch between stations, causing significant traffic disruptions.

Officials maintain there is no nationwide shortage, but hoarding and over-collection continue to impact availability.

He emphasized that these operations have been intensified to curb unlawful hoarding and ensure a stable fuel supply.

Officials added that the drives will continue to safeguard consumers’ interests and maintain normal fuel availability in the market.

Fuel pumps were selling limited amounts—Tk 600 for motorcycles, Tk 1,500 for cars, and Tk 2,000 for SUVs.

Despite officials’ earlier assurances that prices would remain stable, queues have lengthened, sometimes stretching from one station to the next and blocking lanes.

A survey of 12 stations in Tejgaon, Mohakhali, and Gulshan between 2:00pm and 5:00pm found three closed and the rest struggling to manage the crowds.

The Tejgaon-Mohakhali road saw heavier-than-usual traffic, with police controlling signals and congestion caused by fuel queues.

Filing stations operators blamed limited supply, while the government has repeatedly said there is no shortage of fuel oil.