Price hike fails to end fuel queuing in capital

Long queues of vehicles stretched across major thoroughfares in the capital on Sunday, as motorists waited for hours to purchase fuel despite a recent government decision to raise prices.

The increase, officials had suggested, would help stabilize supply and ease sufferings. Instead, consumers say their hardship has only deepened.

From the early hours of the morning, filling stations in areas such as Asad Gate, Paribagh and Tejgaon witnessed a familiar surge of motorcycles and private cars lining up under a rationing system that limits fuel sales per vehicle.

Many drivers reported waiting since dawn without securing their required amount of fuel.

At several stations, authorities imposed strict caps, allowing only a fixed monetary amount of fuel per customer.

At Tejgaon’s Sat Rasta City Filling Station, for instance, bikers queued from the main truck stand to near the Karwan Bazar rail gate.

Yet each customer was restricted to fuel worth Tk 500—now yielding just over 3.5 liters, compared to more than 4 liters before the price hike.

The reduction in volume, combined with prolonged waiting times, has intensified frustration.

Motorists voiced growing anger at what they described as a disconnect between policy decisions and ground realities.

“What’s going on? The government raised prices, but we still can’t get the fuel we need,” said Yeasin, a motorcyclist waiting at a filling station at Ramna in the City. “It’s painful to stand in line for hours. Immediate steps are needed to end this suffering.”

Similar scenes unfolded at other stations across the capital. At Trust Fuel Station, queues reportedly extended close to Jahangir Gate.

Customers with fuel passes were allowed to purchase up to Tk 1,200 worth of fuel, while others were limited to Tk 1,000. Even so, many said the supply remained insufficient.

“I’ve been waiting since 10 a.m., but distribution only started at 2 p.m. I still don’t know when I’ll get fuel,” said Shahriar Hridoy, another motorcyclist.

Others echoed concerns that the higher prices had not translated into improved availability. “We expected supply to increase after the price adjustment. But nothing has changed,” said a private car driver, Zafar.

The government on Saturday revised fuel prices in line with global markets. Diesel rose by Tk 15 per liter to Tk 115, kerosene by Tk 18 to Tk 130, octane by Tk 20 to Tk 140, and petrol by Tk 19 to Tk 135. Officials argued that the adjustment was necessary amid rising international oil prices, which have significantly increased import costs.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said the government had already incurred an additional $2 billion in fuel import expenses due to global volatility.

He noted that prices in international markets had nearly doubled since the onset of geopolitical tensions, placing substantial pressure on the national budget.

Despite this, he said, the government had refrained from passing the full burden onto consumers and continued to subsidize fuel to maintain economic stability.

Despite these assurances, criticism has mounted from political leaders and lawmakers.

In a statement, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar expressed deep concern over the price hike, warning that it would have far-reaching consequences for the economy.

He said higher fuel costs would increase transportation fares, industrial production expenses and agricultural costs, ultimately driving up the prices of essential goods and worsening inflation.

He urged the government to reconsider the decision and bring prices down to a tolerable level, arguing that the move would disproportionately affect middle- and low-income households.

Independent lawmaker Rumin Farhana also questioned the government’s position, highlighting the apparent contradiction between official claims and the situation on the ground.

Speaking in Parliament, she asked: if there is no fuel crisis, why are there such long queues? Why raise prices at all? And why adjust office hours to cope with shortages? Yet on the ground, consumers expressed skepticism.

Many argued that the dual burden of higher prices and restricted access had made the situation untenable.

Motorists called for the immediate withdrawal of the rationing system, urging authorities to allow purchases based on actual demand. The ripple effects of the price hike are already being felt beyond fuel stations.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) held a meeting Sunday evening with transport owners to revise bus and truck fares in response to the higher diesel price.

Industry representatives are expected to propose new rates, which will be reviewed before final approval.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (Passenger Carriers) Association has proposed a fare hike of up to 42 percent for launches operating on inland waterways, citing the recent increase in fuel prices.

In a letter sent on Sunday to the chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the association said the government’s decision on April 18 to raise diesel prices by Tk 15 per liter to Tk 115 has significantly increased operational costs for launch services.

The letter, signed by the association’s acting president Md. Badiuzzaman, noted that expenses have risen sharply not only due to higher fuel prices but also because of increased costs of essential components such as plates, L-angles, propellers, engine spare parts, fueling rods, gas, paint and other equipment.

Overall, the association claimed that operational costs have surged by nearly 50 percent, making a fare adjustment necessary to sustain services.

Economists and consumers alike fear broader inflationary consequences. Higher fuel costs are likely to drive up transportation fares, agricultural production expenses and the prices of essential goods, disproportionately affecting middle- and low-income households.