Bangladesh faces fuel panic, not shortage

Bangladesh is witnessing panic buying of fuel at petrol stations across parts of the capital amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, although authorities insist the country has sufficient reserves and there is no immediate shortage.

Long queues of motorcycles and private vehicles were seen at several filling stations in Dhaka over the past two days as motorists rushed to fill their tanks in fear of a possible disruption to fuel supplies. In some locations, pumps were forced to temporarily suspend sales after exhausting their daily allocations due to the surge in demand.

Scenes of heavy crowds were reported at several stations including the Meghna Model Service Centre in Shahbagh and other pumps in areas such as Malibagh, Kalyanpur, Shyamoli, Asad Gate and Paribagh, where vehicle queues stretched hundreds of metres. The rush also caused traffic congestion on nearby roads, adding to public inconvenience during Ramadan.

Officials and energy experts say the situation reflects public anxiety rather than an actual supply crisis.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood assured the public that the country currently holds adequate fuel reserves and that supplies remain stable.

“There is no reason for people to worry about fuel oil,” the minister said after a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka on Saturday.

He said Bangladesh maintains sufficient stocks and two additional fuel shipments are scheduled to arrive in the country on 9 March.

According to the minister, temporary rationing at filling stations was introduced to manage uncertainty over the duration of the Middle East conflict and prevent excessive stockpiling.

Under the current arrangement, motorcycles are allowed to purchase two litres of petrol or octane per day, while private cars can buy up to 10 litres and microbuses 20–25 litres.

“Some people are buying more fuel than they normally need, which is creating unnecessary panic and artificial pressure on supply,” he added.

Authorities have also announced that mobile courts will be deployed to monitor filling stations and prevent irregularities in fuel sales.

Energy expert Prof Ijaz Hossain said Bangladesh faces limited immediate risk but warned that a prolonged conflict could affect global fuel supplies.

“The war is unlikely to last long, possibly two weeks,” he said. “However, if it continues for a longer period or if the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted, global energy markets could face serious instability.”

According to BPC data, the country currently has around 129,000 tonnes of diesel in stock, enough to meet demand for roughly two weeks. The country also has approximately 23,000 tonnes of octane, sufficient for about 25 days.

Bangladesh’s reserves of furnace oil, widely used in power generation, remain comparatively comfortable. About 77,000 tonnes are currently in stock, which could meet demand for nearly 89 days.

However, analysts warn that liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports could face disruptions if shipping routes in the Gulf become unstable.

Amid the growing concerns over fuel supply management, the government has placed two directors of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) on officer on special duty (OSD).

In separate orders issued on Thursday, the government transferred AKM Azadur Rahman, director (operations and planning), and Muhammad Ashraf Hossain, director (marketing), to the Ministry of Public Administration and attached them there as joint secretaries.

The OSD designation is often regarded as a disciplinary measure in the civil service, as officials in this position are usually removed from active policymaking and administrative responsibilities.

Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said, “They have been made OSD due to negligence in their work. They have done the opposite of what was instructed by the ministry and failed to fulfil their assigned duties.”

He added that the government would take further steps to improve fuel management and stabilise the situation in the coming days.

Despite the government assurances, motorists – particularly ride-sharing drivers – say the rationing system and panic buying have made it difficult to operate normally.

Ride-sharing driver Robiul Islam, who has been operating in Dhaka for more than a decade, said he now spends hours waiting in line just to collect small quantities of fuel.

“Earlier I could run my bike the whole day after filling once or twice. Now I have to queue four or five times to get two litres each time,” he said. 

Obaidul Haque, owner of Sahil Filling Station in Shyamoli, said demand has surged unusually. 

“We normally receive three tanker loads of fuel a week. One tanker arrived this morning and it was sold out within three hours,” he said.

The platform Bangladesh Shadharon Nagorik Shamaj warned that unscrupulous traders might attempt to exploit the international situation to manipulate the domestic fuel market.

In a statement, the organisation’s convener Mohiuddin Ahmed called on citizens not to spread rumours about fuel shortages.

“Various sources indicate that the country currently has adequate fuel reserves,” the statement said, urging authorities to ensure transparency in stock management and strengthen market monitoring.

Meanwhile, security forces have stepped up monitoring along border areas to prevent potential fuel smuggling.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intensified patrols and intelligence surveillance in the Benapole border region following the rise in international fuel prices.

Lieutenant Colonel Saifullah Siddiqui, commanding officer of BGB-49 Battalion, said temporary checkpoints have been established to inspect suspicious vehicles and cargo.