BGB deployed at depots, ‘tag officers’ for pumps to ensure smooth supply

In a bid to ramp up fuel sector monitoring amid the chaos of supply shortage, the government has deployed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel at key depots and decided to introduce "tag officers" for every filling station.

Energy Division officials alleged that a portion of the supplied fuel is not reaching filling stations, as tanker loads are being diverted elsewhere by some pump owners, contributing to the apparent supply shortfall.

Petrol pump owners, however, rejected the allegation, saying fuel releases from depots have dropped to nearly 50% compared to the pre-war period, which is causing long queues at filling stations.

BGB personnel have been deployed at 19 fuel depots across nine districts to prevent illegal hoarding, maintain order in fuel marketing, and ensure uninterrupted supply.

The move follows instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs amid rising prices and allegations of stockpiling by filling station owners.

In a parallel measure, the government has decided to appoint a designated official for each filling station nationwide to track fuel movement from depots to pumps.

The decision was taken at a virtual meeting on Friday (27 March) chaired by Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam.

Officials said the "tag officers" will monitor how much fuel is lifted from depots and whether it reaches designated stations, addressing concerns that part of the supply is being diverted elsewhere.

Crisis persists despite policy reversal

Earlier this month, the government introduced fuel rationing on 6 March to cope with supply constraints.

However, following widespread allegations of shortages and long queues, the restrictions on petrol, octane and diesel were withdrawn on 15 March to ease public suffering.

Despite the rollback, the situation on the ground tells a different story.

In Dhaka, many filling stations are informally limiting sales. Motorcyclists are often being sold fuel worth only Tk500-Tk600, while private cars are facing caps on volume, typically around 10 litres.

Many customers complained that they could not get fuel even after visiting multiple pumps throughout the day.

Private sector employee Salahuddin Ahmed said he had to visit three stations and finally got fuel after standing in queue for an hour but not more than the imposed limit.

Ride-sharing driver Zobayer Ahmed said he waited nearly an hour only to receive a maximum of five litres of octane.

Alleging manipulation, he said, "An artificial crisis has been created through syndication and irregularities," adding that octane is being sold in the open market at inflated prices – up to Tk200 per litre, far above the government-set rate of Tk120.

Pump owners cite supply shortfall

Petrol pump owners, however, say the crisis is rooted in inadequate supply from depots.

Syed Sazzadul Karim Kabul, convener of the Petrol Pump Owners Association, told TBS that pumps are receiving significantly less fuel than their demand.

 "For a tanker with a 9,000-litre capacity, we are getting only 6,000 litres. For 13,500 litres, we receive around 9,000 litres. But transport costs remain the same," he said, adding that some operators are shutting down pumps or reducing staff due to losses.

He said pump operators are compelled to set vehicle-based limits in order to distribute the limited supply among a larger number of customers.

Uneven supply picture across capital

On-the-ground observations show a mixed picture across different areas of the capital.

In Mohakhali, the situation appeared relatively normal this afternoon (28 March), although some pumps were still imposing limits.

In Gulshan, a station official said supply remained stable as multiple fuel tankers had arrived by midday.

However, at a pump in Bijoy Sarani, queues stretched for several kilometres, with some drivers waiting up to five hours.

Customers alleged that, due to the risk of fuel suddenly running out at other stations, they are crowding into "reliable" pumps to avoid wasting time.

Rationing continues at depot level

While retail rationing has officially been withdrawn, supply-side restrictions remain in place.

In Sirajganj's Baghabari oil depot, fuel is still being distributed on a rationing basis.

From this morning Padma, Meghna and Jamuna Petroleum began supplying around 2.37 million litres of fuel to 285 pumps across 20 districts in Rajshahi, Rangpur and Mymensingh divisions.

The allocation includes 1.85 million litres of diesel, 409,000 litres of petrol and 115,000 litres of octane – figures which filling station owners said is insufficient against the demand.

To maintain security and ensure smooth distribution, army personnel have also been deployed at the depot.

Regional disparities widen

Fuel availability varies sharply across regions.

In Sylhet, supplies of petrol and octane remain largely stable, although there is a slight shortage of diesel, local fuel pump owners said.

But in Satkhira, the situation has turned severe. Most filling stations remained closed today due to a lack of supply, leaving hundreds of motorists waiting in long queues.

Tensions escalated on Friday night when angry locals blocked the Satkhira-Jashore highway and set fires after a pump refused to sell fuel. Police later intervened to restore order.

Govt tightens enforcement

Amid growing pressure, the government has also formed vigilance teams in all districts to monitor fuel distribution and stock levels, alongside announcing rewards for informants who report hoarding.

Officials hope that  depot-level monitoring, field administration and law enforcement deployment – combined with the "tag officer" system – will help stabilise the fuel market and ensure that limited supplies reach the consumers.

Several district correspondents also contributed to this report.