Fuel stations across Dhaka were packed with long queue on Friday, with customers rushing to stock up on petrol, octane, and diesel in response to fears of a potential fuel shortage.
The growing concern over fuel supply disruptions is linked to the ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States.
At several filling stations in the capital, including those located near Bijoy Sarani and Tejgaon, hundreds of vehicles, including motorcycles and private cars, were seen waiting for hours.
The Trust Filling Station in Bijoy Sarani saw queues stretching all the way to the Mohakhali flyover. Even during iftar, customers continued to wait, with many sitting on their motorcycles to break their fast.
Humayun Kabir Roni, a private-sector worker, shared his frustration, “I’ve been waiting for almost an hour and a half. They’ve taken a break for Iftar, but I’m hoping to get my petrol once the break is over.”
At both Southern Automobiles Limited and Sattata and Company Filling Station in Tejgaon, large groups of people waited to fill up, with some fearing the imminent imposition of a new regulation limiting fuel purchases to just two liters per customer.
Nazirur Rahman Nipun, a ride-sharing professional, voiced his concerns about how such a restriction would impact his work, “If I have to wait hours just to fill up two liters, how can I continue my ride-sharing business?”
Around 4pm on Friday, a visit to Tejgaon revealed that City Filling Station had closed after running out of diesel, petrol, and octane by 3pm. Employees at the station explained that the shortage led to the closure.
Some customers expressed frustration, speculating that a price hike could follow due to a possible syndicate.
In the afternoon, long lines continued to form at filling stations in the Paribag and Shahbagh areas, with motorcycles making up the majority of vehicles.
SM Azmir Hossain Kollol, a private employee waiting at Meghna Model Service Centre in Paribag, attributed the rush to the growing fear of price instability caused by the Israel-Iran conflict.
“People are worried that the fuel market will become unstable,” he said.
“Many people are taking more fuel than necessary, while some stations are running out of stock. There are concerns that fuel stations may be hoarding fuel to drive up prices. This is an issue the government should address,” he said.
Two petrol stations in the Nilkheth area also faced closures, with employees citing supply shortages. Mohammad Ali, an employee at one of the stations, explained, “We sent a vehicle to pick up fuel yesterday, but due to long lines, it hasn’t arrived yet.”
In the Raer Bazar-Hazaribagh area, Sadik Khan Pump and Shikdar Filling Station have been dealing with customer congestion since Thursday night. To manage the crowds, the stations began limiting fuel distribution to a maximum of Tk 300 per motorcycle before government directives were issued.
