Officials assure steady fuel supply, yet long-distance operators reduce trips

Dhaka and other parts of the country have faced unusual congestion at petrol pumps in recent days, driven by the escalating Middle East conflict. While the government has imposed daily, vehicle-specific fuel limits and officials maintain that long-distance vehicles face no actual shortage, operators are taking a cautious approach.

Long queues and rationed supplies have led many to reduce outbound trips from Dhaka, delay departures, and operate below normal levels. In Dhaka, bus terminals are reporting fewer departures, with operators now waiting to fill buses before setting off, prioritising reliability and efficiency amid the uncertain fuel situation.

Rakib, counter manager at Grameen Travels in Kallyanpur, said, "Buses that used to depart in half capacity now wait longer due to uncertainty in fuel supply." 

Passengers are feeling the pinch. Shirin Begum, waiting at Kallyanpur bus station, said, "I've been sitting here for nearly two hours. The counter keeps saying buses are coming, but none have arrived yet." 

Truck drivers are facing similar struggles. Ashraf at Dholai Khal said, "We cannot get enough fuel for long trips, so I've been driving locally for the past couple of days, which has cut my earnings down."

At Syedabad Bus Terminal, Golden Line manager Ismail Mia said, "Vehicle movement was low in the morning due to fuel constraints. Pressure increased around noon, but pumps are closing, and stocking fuel is not allowed." 

Echoing him, Akhtar Hossain, manager of Shyamoli NR Transport, says, "If 140 litres of fuel is needed, our drivers can only manage to get 70-80 litres. Which is why owners are now reducing the number of trips."

Fuel demand surges fivefold in Khulna 

Fuel depots in Khulna have seen demand surge in recent days, primarily driven by panic and circulating rumours. Tankers crowd the Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna Oil Company depots in Daulatpur, while petrol stations across the city report sales far above normal. 

Habibur Rahman, deputy manager of Meghna Petroleum, said, "Demand has increased nearly fivefold. Pumps that previously bought fuel worth Tk20 lakh weekly are now buying Tk1 crore." 

Mahfuz Biswas, manager of M/S Nagar Petroleum Service Station, added, "Sales normally top 5,500 litres daily, but rumours have pushed this to 25,000-30,000 litres, with some customers bringing containers to collect extra fuel."

Transport workers report growing difficulties. Abdul Karim, a bus driver, said, "We have to wait long in line, delaying departures." Truck driver Saiful Islam added, "Previously, refills took 10-15 minutes; now, lines are long and allocations limited, causing delays in goods transport." 

Bus supervisor Rahmat Ali noted that partial refills force mid-route stops, and some pumps are running dry, leaving drivers uncertain when normal operations will resume.

Fuel flow remains normal in Rajshahi 

Yesterday morning (7 March), Gul Gafur Petroleum Station in Kumarpara, Rajshahi, saw long lines, with extended waits sparking occasional heated exchanges between customers and staff. 

Nazrul Islam Helal, general secretary of the Rajshahi Road Transport Group, said, "Our transport sector has not faced any problems so far, and all buses are operating normally. However, some petrol station owners are trying to create an artificial sense of scarcity." 

Meanwhile, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, deputy director of the Rajshahi Agriculture Extension Department, confirmed that fuel for irrigation in agricultural fields is sufficient and that field-level officers have been instructed to collect real-time supply data.

Shortage in petrol, octane; Diesel remains stable in Bogura 

While petrol and octane have faced shortages in Bogura and other northern districts, diesel for buses and trucks remains stable. Bus driver Mohammad Sohan Sheikh said, "We are getting diesel whenever needed from local pumps, and prices have not increased." 

Truck operator Redoyan Rakib reported the same: "Our trucks deliver essential food supplies to Dhaka, and so far the fuel supply at pumps has been sufficient."

Al Amin, manager of Shakib Filling Station in Naogaon, noted that their usual stock of 20,000-25,000 litres has been rapidly depleted due to sudden demand surges. To manage the situation, pumps are currently supplying fuel only directly into vehicle tanks, and container sales have been temporarily suspended.

Contrasting accounts in Sylhet

In Sylhet, opinions on diesel availability diverge sharply. Sabbir Ahmad Foyez of the Sylhet Truck Owners' Association says trucks are still able to get diesel through priority channels. "We're currently getting enough for operations, but how long the supply will last is uncertain," he said.

At the same time, Zubayer Ahmad Chowdhury, secretary of the Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Owners Association and president of its Sylhet division, reported that around 80% of pumps in the region have run out of diesel. 

He said depots were closed on Friday and yesterday as customer demand surged from Thursday night, depleting petrol and octane stocks. He expressed hope that regular supply from depots should resume from today, normalising the situation by tomorrow.

Chowdhury also expressed concern over diesel supply, noting that while petrol and octane are produced domestically from Sylhet's gas fields, diesel must be imported. "We are not certain how much diesel reserve the country has, so there is a risk of disruption," he added.

Operations continue smoothly in Brahmanbaria

Despite unrest elsewhere, Brahmanbaria has remained largely unaffected. Passenger buses, trucks, and river transport vessels continue receiving fuel normally. Daily buses operate from Brahmanbaria town to Akhaura, Kasba, Nabinagar, Ashuganj, and Madhabpur, each round trip needing 15–20 litres of diesel. 

Mohammad Hanif, general secretary of the District Bus and Minibus Owners' Association, said, "Our buses are facing no significant constraint in getting fuel as per demand. If a crisis emerges, operations and fares could be affected." Waterway transport is also stable, with traders buying diesel at government-fixed prices without issue.