Bangladesh’s fuel supply is coming under growing strain, as disruptions in crude imports trigger shortages of petrol and octane across the country, exposing deeper structural weaknesses in the energy sector.
Despite official assurances of stability, the situation on the ground tells a different story. Industry insiders say fuel distribution has been cut by 25 to 30 percent, while many petrol pumps are receiving barely half of their required allocations; forcing rationing and long wait at filling stations.
The pressure stems largely from disruptions in crude oil shipments, with nearly 200,000 tonnes destined for the state-owned Eastern Refinery currently stranded in the Persian Gulf amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
The impact is already visible in key urban centres, particularly Chattogram, where motorists queued for hours on Saturday, only to find pumps running dry. Many stations have capped sales, while others have temporarily halted supply.
Bangladesh remains heavily dependent on imported crude, with around 92 percent of petrol and octane derived from domestic refining of imported oil; making the system highly vulnerable to external shocks.
Officials at the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) acknowledge the pressure but insist the situation is temporary, attributing it to global supply disruptions and panic buying.
“Supply has been reduced by around 20 percent due to the current situation,” a BPC official said. However, industry sources warn that the crisis reflects deeper structural fragilities, including limited refining capacity and heavy reliance on imports.
With demand for octane hovering around 1,100 tonnes daily and petrol fully dependent on refinery output, any disruption in crude supply quickly ripples through the entire distribution network.
As supply tightens and queues lengthen, the unfolding situation is raising fresh concerns over the resilience of Bangladesh’s fuel security in the face of global volatility.
