Many filling stations across Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Chattogram, and Rajshahi, ran dry yesterday as panic buying continued for a second day amid fears of supply disruption due to the war in the Middle East.
Long queues stretched into the night, with motorists scrambling to secure fuel despite repeated government assurances that reserves remain adequate and prices will not rise this month.
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at his office yesterday and briefed him on the situation.
The minister reiterated that Bangladesh’s fuel stocks are sufficient and urged citizens not to panic.
“There are adequate reserves of diesel, petrol, and octane in the country. People have no reason to be worried,” Tuku told reporters at the Prime Minister’s Office.
He added that two more fuel-carrying vessels are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, ensuring continued supply.
The minister acknowledged public anxiety triggered by the Middle East conflict and the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz but stressed that panic buying itself is creating unnecessary pressure.
“If people start stockpiling fuel, it creates artificial shortages,” he said, adding, “In reality, there is no shortage of fuel.”
Mobile courts will be deployed from today to monitor filling stations and prevent irregularities, he said, adding that the government is exploring alternative sources beyond Qatar to secure future supplies.
According to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), as of yesterday the country held 15,000 tonnes of petrol, enough for 15 days’ supply; 23,000 tonnes of octane, enough for 25 days’ supply; and 1,29,000 tonnes of diesel, enough for 14 days’ supply.
Officials said despite delays in scheduled arrivals, supply remains manageable. One vessel carrying diesel arrived on March 4, while shipments expected on March 6 and yesterday are now due today. Another vessel is expected on March 12.
Under BPC’s March import schedule, Bangladesh is set to receive 2,00,000 tonnes of crude oil; 3,74,000 tonnes of diesel; 25,000 tonnes of octane; and 45,000 tonnes of jet fuel from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
April shipments include 1,00,000 tonnes of crude oil; 2,93,000 tonnes of diesel; 50,000 tonnes of jet fuel; and 25,000 tonnes of octane.
However, officials cautioned that the ongoing conflict could delay arrivals.
Fuel sales have spiked dramatically since the conflict began on February 28. Officials said this spike, is straining supply management and could turn “relatively low stock levels” into a major risk if imports are delayed.
Prof M Tamim, vice-chancellor of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) and an energy expert, explained that Bangladesh operates on a “running inventory” system rather than a strategic reserve.
“Our total storage capacity, including tankers, pipelines, and private power plant tanks, is enough for approximately 35 to 40 days,” he said. “But we lack a formal strategic storage policy where fuel is kept untouched for emergencies.”
Tamim warned that in a crisis, existing contracts may not be honoured if suppliers invoke force majeure.
Although maintaining a permanent strategic reserve would require major financial investment in infrastructure and significant capital tied up in fuel that remains unused, he urged the government to establish at least 15 days of dedicated strategic inventory to safeguard against global volatility.
To curb panic buying, the government has capped daily fuel purchases. Motorists can buy up to 2 litres of fuel oil for motorcycles; cars up to 10 litres; SUVs/microbuses 20–25 litres; pickup trucks/local buses 70–80 litres; and long-distance buses/trucks 200–220 litres.
Officials said these limits are precautionary, not due to shortages.
However, rationing itself has prompted some to stockpile fuel out of fear.
Correspondents visiting stations in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Pabna, Gopalganj, and Rangamati found most pumps closed or selling limited quantities.
In Dhaka, only a few stations continued distribution, drawing huge crowds. Even at Friday midnight, long queues were seen at Tejgaon filling stations. Employees said weekend depot closures worsened shortages.
In Chattogram, long lines formed at several stations.
“I visited eight filling stations today before coming here and standing in line,” car driver Rezaul Karim told The Daily Star at the CMP Filling Station in the Wasa area of the port city.
“But when my turn finally came after half an hour, I was told that there was no fuel left.”
In Rajshahi, temporary disruptions led to commotion at some pumps, with some suspending sales after running out of fuel and others selling limited quantities.
In one case, fuel had to be sold in the presence of police after a commotion. Around 10:30am, long queues of motorcycles and other vehicles were seen at Habib Filling Station in front of Rajshahi Airport.
At Nayan Filling Station in the RUET area, biker Sabuj Ahmed said he uses his motorcycle daily and was visiting different filling stations, trying to fill the tank.
Customer flow normalised in Patuakhali and Gopalganj after rationing began, though the queue remained slightly longer than usual.
In Rangamati, supply was stable but demand for octane rose sharply at Kalyanpur, Rajbari, Banarupa and Old Bus Stand filling stations.
Meanwhile, a 22-year-old anti-discrimination student leader, identified as Nirab Ahmed, died in Jhenaidah yesterday allegedly after being beaten by workers of a filling station.
Saidur Rahman, convener of the Jhenaidah District Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, told The Daily Star that Nirab, originally from Barobazar area of Kaliganj upazila, had been actively involved on the front lines during the movement.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Mahfuz Hossain told The Daily Star that the incident occurred at Taj Filling Station in the terminal area on the highway to Dhaka.
Locals said when Nirab went to buy fuel for his motorcycle around 8:45pm, the filling station workers refused to sell. But when he saw the workers pour fuel into bottles, an altercation ensued. At one stage, the workers beat up Nirab, they said. When he collapsed, his friends rushed him to Jhenaidah 250-Bed General Hospital, they said.
Sabyasachi Pal Suman, an emergency department physician at the hospital, said that Nirab had swollen injuries on the back of his waist and the back of his head. He was declared dead at 9:05pm.ASP Mahfuz said three salesmen of the filling station were taken into custody.
[Our correspondents in respective districts contributed to this report]