Monday, 6th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 5th March 2026, 9:55 AM
Dhaka is witnessing unprecedented congestion at fuel stations across the city, as motorists rush to fill their tanks amid dwindling supplies of petrol, octane, diesel, and LPG gas. In many areas, vehicle queues have spilled onto the streets, causing traffic disruption, while some pumps have temporarily halted sales.
A survey conducted on Thursday morning revealed that the majority of buyers are topping up their tanks entirely, depleting pump reserves more quickly. At least two fuel stations temporarily suspended sales between 10:30 am and 11:00 am, and one station stopped selling diesel in open drums or bottles due to limited stock.
| Pump Location | Fuel Type | Status | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mirpur-2 (Sam Associates Limited) | Petrol & Diesel | Open | Long queues of motorcycles; majority of customers filling full tanks |
| Kallyanpur (Khalek Pump) | Petrol & Diesel | Open | Heavy presence of long-distance buses and private cars; traffic spillover reported |
| Asadgate (Talukdar Filling Station) | Petrol & Diesel | Partially Closed | Entry to pumps blocked temporarily; daily supply ~40,000 L, reserve reduced to ~400 L |
| Bijoy Sarani (Trust Refuelling Station) | Petrol | Open | Queue extended 350 m along road; 97 vehicles counted |
| Kalshi (Sumatra Filling Station) | Petrol, Diesel, LPG | Closed | All fuels temporarily unavailable; reserves exhausted overnight |
At Sam Associates in Mirpur-2, motorcycle drivers formed long queues outside the pump. Salam Mia, a ride-share motorcyclist, said: “Usually I fill 200–300 Taka worth of fuel two to three times a day because of limited cash. Today, I managed to fill my tank fully, which cost 1,060 Taka. My daily earnings depend on the bike. If it stops, my household suffers.”
Diesel shortages are also affecting workers. Mahfuz Ali, a labourer collecting 30 L in a drum for piling work, said: “This pump has been my regular source for over a month, but today they said there’s no diesel. My work depends on it.”
Pump managers attribute the sales suspension to supply shortages. At Sam Associates, cashier Sharif Ahmed explained: “Normally, we maintain 20,000–27,000 L of fuel. Now stock has fallen to around 5,000 L, with diesel nearly depleted. Open drum sales are suspended to prioritise vehicles.”
At Talukdar Filling Station in Asadgate, the station’s entry was temporarily blocked at 10:34 am due to overwhelming vehicle pressure. Manager Tanmoy Baroi noted: “If depot deliveries arrive in the afternoon or evening, sales will resume, though allocation may only cover 40% of demand.”
Traffic police officers were deployed at several congested locations to manage the flow and prevent gridlock. However, the shortage continues to place severe strain on daily commuters and workers relying on fuel to sustain their livelihoods.
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