At Islam Brothers Filling Station in Chandraghona, Rangunia, the shortfall is stark. The station normally requires 27,000 litres of diesel and 9,000 litres of octane weekly. Last week, it received just 9,000 litres of diesel and 3,000 litres of octane from Jamuna Oil Company — only a third of its demand.
Owner Sajjadul Islam said, “Jamuna Oil Company cannot supply fuel as per demand. A tanker of 9,000 litres delivers only 3,000, yet customers accuse us of hoarding, sparking constant disputes.” Frustrated motorists have threatened violence, forcing staff to flee on multiple occasions.
This scenario is repeating nationwide. Long queues, rationed sales, and temporary pump closures have become commonplace. Pump owners in Chattogram division report diesel and octane supplies are down by more than 30 per cent in many areas.
The shortage is most acute in Cox’s Bazar, where daily demand of 1.2 million litres contrasts sharply with a supply of roughly 400,000 litres. Petrol is largely unavailable, diesel and octane critically low, grounding fishing boats, crippling hotel generators, and hitting the tourism and fisheries sectors.
Northern districts — Nilphamari, Kurigram, Rangpur, and Lalmonirhat — are in even worse shape, with most stations dry. Residents often queue for hours to buy fuel worth Tk100–200, and some leave empty-handed. Opportunistic sellers in some areas charge up to three times the official price.
Southwest Khulna division receives roughly 1 million litres daily against a demand of 4 million litres. Districts such as Jessore and Bagerhat display “No Fuel” signs, while tensions at pumps escalate. Sylhet has seen partial recovery, and Barishal reports limited but ongoing supply.
Dhaka is not spared. Long lines have formed at most stations since Tuesday morning, with motorists moving from pump to pump only to encounter “No Fuel” signs. Drivers running low are worst affected, while fear of worsening shortages has prompted stockpiling, further stretching queues.
Analysts partly link the disruption to Middle East tensions. Following the 28 February outbreak of the Iran–Israel conflict, Iran reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz — a key chokepoint for global oil shipments. Instability and missile threats have disrupted regional shipping.
Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, told Al Jazeera the conflict has pushed the world into a severe energy crisis surpassing even the 1970s oil shocks and Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. He warned that global policymakers still do not fully grasp the scale of the challenge.
Bangladesh imports crude from Saudi Arabia and the UAE under government-to-government agreements, with shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Much refined fuel comes from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China, bypassing the strait, but crude supply remains vulnerable.
Shipping complications are emerging. The tanker Nordic Pollock waits at Ras Tanura port, Saudi Arabia, to load 100,000 tonnes of crude bound for Bangladesh. Another vessel, Omera Galaxy, is scheduled to pick up a similar volume from the UAE on 31 March. A senior Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) official, speaking anonymously, said ship owners are hesitant to operate amid wartime uncertainties.
Domestic stocks remain tight. As of 23 March, diesel stood at about 185,000 tonnes — roughly 29 per cent of total storage, covering 14 days of demand. Octane stocks are 11,000 tonnes, enough for nine days.
Gasoline reserves total 16,605 tonnes, covering 11 days. Eastern Refinery Limited holds 80,000 tonnes of crude and can refine roughly 4,500 tonnes daily, providing a 17–18 day runway. Officials warn production could be disrupted if shipments do not arrive on schedule.
In response, BPC held board meetings on 20 and 22 March, approving plans to procure up to 1.8 million tonnes of diesel from the international spot market to stabilise supply chains. Attempts to reach BPC Chairman Md Rezanur Rahman were unsuccessful.
Mizanur Rahman Ratan, joint convenor of the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association, said, “If supply is increased, the situation will return to normal. We have no specific demands from the government; we just want operations to run smoothly.” Many pumps have already rationed sales.
Md Nazmul Haque, president of the association, said ground realities do not match government assurances. Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmood Tuku told reporters on Tuesday that oil stocks are sufficient and the crunch stems from a sudden surge in demand, compounded by depot closures during the Eid holidays. He urged the public not to panic, warning that hoarding would worsen queues.
Energy expert M Tamim, former energy adviser to the caretaker government, offered a different view. He said the government is likely releasing fuel in small quantities to manage pressure — a strategy to extend existing reserves.
Tamim described it as prudent but highlighted the broader regional supply crisis, with shortages affecting Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and China. He suggested Bangladesh explore alternative suppliers such as Russia, Nigeria, or other African producers, though costs are expected to be higher.
Our correspondents from Cox’s Bazar, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Khulna, Jashore, Bagerhat, Sylhet, and Barishal have contributed to this report.
