Rumours of Fuel Shortages Trigger Panic Buying Across North Bengal

A sudden wave of panic buying swept across Dinajpur and neighbouring districts on Thursday, following unverified social media rumours predicting an impending national fuel shortage. Long queues of motorcycles, private cars, and commercial microbuses formed outside filling stations across the region, spilling over onto major thoroughfares and creating severe traffic congestion.

The frantic rush began late on Wednesday evening as misleading posts and videos depicting crowded petrol pumps quickly gained traction across social media platforms like Facebook. Fearing a potential breakdown in supply lines—partly triggered by recent global geopolitical tensions and lingering memories of previous energy market volatility—thousands of motorists braved rain and waited for hours to fill up their tanks.

By Wednesday night, several filling stations in Dinajpur town had temporarily exhausted their immediate stock of petrol and octane under the pressure of unprecedented demand. Despite the visible chaos, local filling station proprietors and industry representatives have firmly dismissed claims of a deficit, asserting that regional fuel supplies remain entirely stable.

The phenomenon was not confined to Dinajpur. Similar scenes of anxious motorists congregating at pumps were reported from adjoining northern districts, including Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, and Nilphamari. Taking advantage of the sudden surge in demand, certain unscrupulous traders in the informal market inflated prices, selling fuel at 170 to 180 Taka per litre—a markup of 20 to 30 Taka above standard rates.

Motorists waiting in line expressed anxiety over potential future disruptions. “Fuel prices had already risen, and after hearing news of potential shortages linked to ongoing global conflicts, I decided not to take any risks,” said Shakil Hossain, a local resident waiting at a station. Another driver, Dulal Hossain, admitted that seeing photos of endless queues online prompted him to fill his tank immediately to avoid greater inconvenience later.

Sector leaders have called for calm, stressing that the momentary exhaustion of stocks at certain outlets was purely a logistical bottleneck caused by a sudden, unnatural spike in customer traffic rather than a failure in supply lines.

Mofidullah Chowdhury Babla, owner of M/S Pioneer Filling Station in the Upshahar Housing area, reassured the public that adequate fuel reserves are available across the district. He urged citizens to refrain from panic buying and to purchase only what they strictly require for daily operation.

Echoing these remarks, Rahbar Kabir Piar, representing the Dinajpur District Petrol Pump and Fuel Distributors’ Association, affirmed that distribution from main depots remains completely uninterrupted. “There is no shortfall whatsoever in the supply of petroleum products,” he confirmed. “Our stations are receiving regular deliveries and operating normally. As long as dispatch operations continue without hindrance, there is no justification for labelling this a shortage. We strongly advise the public against acting on unfounded rumours.”