Nationwide Petrol Pumps Face Immediate Closure Risk

The Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners’ Association (BPPOA) has issued a grave warning that the country’s petrol stations could be forced to shut down at any moment due to severe fuel shortages and inadequate security measures. The announcement was made in a press release on Sunday night (22 March).

According to the association, the current situation at petrol pumps across the nation is “critical”. Daily allocations of fuel from suppliers are insufficient to meet consumer demand, leading to long queues where motorbike and car owners wait for hours. Employees at these stations are facing extreme physical and mental stress as they work long, continuous shifts without adequate rest. The combination of limited fuel supply and operational strain has created the potential for an imminent nationwide closure of petrol pumps.

Previously, the BPPOA had raised concerns over the lack of security at fuel stations. They claimed that both the government and district authorities have largely neglected these issues, resulting in rising disorder during fuel sales.

The association highlighted specific cases: on the day before Eid, one station reportedly had 10,500 litres of petrol and an equal quantity of octane, while another had around 8,000 litres. Under normal circumstances, these supplies should last several days. However, due to high demand and disorderly conduct among buyers, the reserves were exhausted far quicker than expected. The BPPOA described the situation as “a form of loot”.

Repeated visits by individual buyers are compounding the problem. Despite adherence to government-issued rationing instructions, some motorbike riders reportedly purchase fuel up to ten times a day and resell it at higher prices. Others arrive repeatedly with partially filled tanks. This has left genuine consumers deprived and increased chaos at fuel stations.

Incidents of late-night mob behaviour have also been reported. In Thakurgaon, a group reportedly entered a petrol station with sticks and forcibly emptied fuel reserves, underscoring the absence of basic security.

The BPPOA warned that fuel shortages, combined with a lack of security oversight, are placing petrol stations and fuel transport at grave risk. Tankers transporting fuel from depots face threats of theft or attack. Without urgent security intervention, the association stated that closing stations may become the only viable option.

In some cases, even emergency reserves have been compromised. On the day before Eid, many stations were unable to reserve 200 litres of octane for ambulances, as mobs forcibly took the remaining supply. The BPPOA called for a robust law enforcement presence to secure stations and ensure safe lifting of fuel from depots.

Fuel Availability at Selected Stations Before Eid

The association concluded that, unless immediate security measures are implemented and fuel supply stabilised, the country faces a potential collapse in petrol distribution, severely affecting daily transportation and emergency services.