The government has directed the deployment of the army to secure major fuel depots across the country following a surge in petroleum demand that has strained supplies, raising concerns over potential unrest at critical storage sites.
The Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources issued the directive on Monday.
According to the notification, the recent surge in demand from dealers has made it difficult for fuel marketing companies to supply petroleum products from some depots.
This has raised concerns about potential unrest or undesirable situations at key storage facilities.
Officials noted that several depots are struggling to meet the sudden increase in dealer demand, creating the risk of unrest at key facilities.
Vulnerable depots identified include the main installation in Patenga, Chattogram, as well as depots in Daulatpur (Khulna), Baghbari (Sirajganj), Godnail and Fatullah (Narayanganj), Parbatipur (Dinajpur), and Barishal.
Since these depots are classified as Key Point Installations (KPI), the government emphasised the urgent need to maintain strict security measures. In response, the army has been deployed to provide round-the-clock protection.
The move follows a proposal submitted on 7 March by Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) chairman Md Rezanur Rahman, who in two letters requested the Energy and Mineral Resources Department to ensure the safety and smooth operation of the country’s major fuel depots.
