Fuel rationing goes today for smooth Eid travel

Infographic: TBS

Amid mounting complaints over fuel shortages at filling stations and long queues of vehicles, the government has decided to withdraw existing rationing on petrol, octane and diesel until further notice to ease public suffering during Eid travel.

An official notification is expected to be issued tomorrow, Monir Hossain Chowdhury, joint secretary (operations) of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, told The Business Standard.

He said the decision had been taken temporarily in view of Eid. "Rationing on diesel, petrol and octane will be withdrawn for now. A notification will be issued on Sunday morning," he said. 

He added that fuel supply and sales would continue as normal until further instructions. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has called for a press briefing at 10am.

Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam announced that all fuel pumps on highways will remain open 24 hours a day for seven days before Eid and five days after Eid to ensure uninterrupted travel for people during  the Eid holidays.

The government introduced rationing on 6 March after panic buying intensified amid fears of supply disruptions and rising global oil prices. The concerns followed escalating tensions after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on 28 February. 

Iran later threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route that carries around 20% of global fuel shipments. It deployed naval forces and sea mines, slowing tanker traffic and delaying deliveries.

Under the initial rationing measures in Bangladesh, motorcycles were allowed to purchase up to 2 litres of fuel per day, private cars 10 litres, and sports utility vehicles and microbuses 20–25 litres. 

Pick-up vans and local buses were permitted 70–80 litres, while long-distance buses, trucks, covered vans and container carriers could buy 200–220 litres daily.

Later, the limit for ride-sharing drivers was raised from 2 litres to 5 litres, and overall rationing was reduced from 25% to 15%. 

Despite these adjustments, fuel shortages were reported at many filling stations across Dhaka and other parts of the country, forcing some pumps to suspend operations due to supply constraints.

No fuel shortage

According to data from the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), there is currently no fuel shortage in the country. Sufficient diesel stocks are available to meet demand for March, while the process to import around 300,000 tonnes of diesel to cover April's requirements has already begun.

Iran's ambassador in Dhaka also confirmed on Friday that Iran would not create any obstacles to the transportation of Bangladesh's fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, said energy officials.

They said adequate reserves of octane, petrol, jet fuel and marine fuel were in place, noting that panic buying and hoarding triggered by rationing measures had contributed to temporary shortages at some filling stations.

Shortages grip capital

Dhaka is grappling with an acute shortage of petrol and octane, as several filling stations across the city have reportedly run dry amid a surge in panic buying driven by fears of global supply disruptions.

The situation worsened yesterday, with more stations suspending operations. Long queues, however, were seen at pumps that remained open.

A visit to the Hajipara Petrol Pump around noon found staff using megaphones to inform frustrated drivers about the unavailability of fuel. Despite ropes blocking the entrance and a sign reading "No petrol or octane," many motorists continued to wait, hoping supplies would arrive.

"We have visited four pumps since morning, and all of them are empty," said a commuter. "Searching for fuel is actually wasting more of what little we have left in our tanks."

At the Meghna Filling Station opposite Dhaka College, operations remained suspended throughout the morning due to shortages. Bamboo poles were placed at the entrance to prevent vehicles from entering.

Pump operator Nasir said customers had been returning empty-handed, although he expected fuel supplies to arrive later in the afternoon.

Mixed supply picture

A different situation was observed at the Nilkhet Fuel Pump and the Meghna Filling Station opposite Hotel InterContinental Dhaka, where fuel sales were continuing with relatively shorter queues.

Pump operator Abdur Razzaq said there was no shortage at his station. "We have sufficient fuel and are supplying motorcycles and other vehicles regularly," he said. However, he added that stations sometimes suspend sales temporarily to manage pressure and ensure availability for the following day.

Ahmed Rush, owner of the filling station, said his pump operates as a specialised outlet and does not remain open around the clock. "We are still receiving roughly the same volume of fuel as before," he said.

Dealers cite supply-demand gap

Nazmul Hoque, president of the Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petrol Pump Owners Association, said many pumps were receiving far less fuel than required.

He claimed that a station which previously received around 20,000 litres per day was now being allocated only 3,000 to 4,000 litres. "The government insists there is sufficient supply, but this sends the wrong message," he said.

Nazmul also alleged rising tensions at several filling stations, with reports of vandalism and attacks on staff at some locations. Petrol pump owners in Khulna and Rajshahi have already warned they may halt services, saying current allocations meet only one-tenth to one-fifth of daily demand.

He further expressed concern that no formal discussions had taken place between authorities and pump owners over the crisis. "I have been trying to reach the BPC chairman for the past two days to offer suggestions, but have received no response," he said.

Meanwhile, petrol pump and tank lorry owners in Rajshahi have threatened to suspend operations from Monday unless the government ensures adequate fuel supply to the northern region. The warning follows reports of severe disruptions across all 42 filling stations in the district.

Earlier, petrol pump owners in Sylhet had issued a similar threat, although they later refrained from enforcing a strike.