Fuel scarcity has escalated across Bangladesh, with petrol and octane supplies running critically low at service stations nationwide. While diesel remains largely available, petrol and octane shortages have left motorists—particularly motorbike riders—waiting for hours in queues, often without success.
Mosharraf Hossain, who departed from Dhaka heading to Bhairab on his motorcycle, reported visiting over thirty petrol stations without securing any fuel. He eventually obtained only 300 taka worth of petrol from a station in Narsingdi. Most petrol stations in Dhaka remained dry throughout Monday, mirroring a similar situation on Sunday.
Nazmul Haque, President of the Petrol Pump Owners and Dealers Association, attributed the disruption to banking closures. “Station owners were unable to make pay orders while banks were closed, preventing fuel deliveries. Once banks reopen on Tuesday, we anticipate normalisation from Wednesday onwards,” he explained.
Transport operators also echoed the impact. Imran Hossain, owner of Boishakhi Transport, said, “The crisis is largely confined to petrol and octane. Diesel is available, and road transport has not been disrupted.” Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury, Vice-President of the Thakurgaon Motor Owners’ Association, noted, “Diesel supply remains stable, but the lack of petrol and octane in recent days has caused significant hardship for motorcyclists.”
The Petrol Pump Owners and Dealers Association issued a public advisory on their Facebook page on Sunday night, highlighting the strain on both customers and staff: “Millions of motorbike users are queuing for extended periods, exhausted and frustrated. Pump attendants are struggling to manage the pressure.”
By Monday afternoon, some stations in Dhaka—including Trust Pump, Asad Gate’s Shonar Bangla, and Ramna Petrol Pump—resumed limited supply. The current shortages are partly rooted in recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and heightened demand, prompting government-imposed restrictions on petrol, octane, and diesel sales from 6 March. These rationing measures were lifted on 14 March ahead of the Eid holidays.
Petrol Station Fuel Status Across Key Districts
| District / Area | Petrol Issue | Octane Issue | Diesel Issue | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka | Severe | Severe | None | Some stations reopened on Monday |
| Narsingdi | Moderate | Moderate | None | Limited supply available |
| Thakurgaon | Limited | Limited | None | Motorbike riders most affected |
| Other Districts | Varied | Varied | None | Some stations have resumed supply |
The fuel shortage has primarily been exacerbated by high consumer demand combined with the temporary closure of banks. Authorities and industry representatives are optimistic that with the reopening of banks, petrol and octane distribution will return to normal levels in the coming days, easing the severe inconvenience faced by millions of motorists across the country.