Capital Drivers And Bikers Face Long Fuel Queues

Motorists across the capital are once again enduring long queues at fuel stations on Monday as the ongoing fuel shortage continues to test patience and resilience. Several filling stations have temporarily suspended sales, leaving drivers stranded and unsure of when they will be able to refuel.

Even at stations where fuel is unavailable, drivers of motorcycles, private cars, and various other vehicles are queuing in the hope of diesel, petrol, or octane becoming available. Many report that their tanks are nearly empty, making it impossible to travel to another station. Leaving a queue often means having to push their vehicles manually, a strenuous task especially under the current fasting conditions for those observing Ramadan.

Widespread Queues Across the City

At operational stations, queues of up to 1–1.5 kilometres have formed, with some motorists reporting that they have been waiting for more than two hours. Observations on Monday morning at nine filling stations in Mirpur, Kallyanpur, Mohammadpur, Bijoy Sarani, and Kalshi revealed that:

At Mirpur-2, for example, vehicles were queued almost 300 metres from the Institute of Bank Management, with motorcycle lines extending even further. Despite the long lines, the station remained closed, with security personnel informing waiting drivers that fuel deliveries from the depot had not yet arrived.

Cashier Arafat Swapnil reported that the station received 4,500 litres of octane on Sunday afternoon, which was completely sold out by 10:30 pm, forcing the closure of sales. The next supply from the Narayanganj depot is yet to arrive.

Drivers Struggle With Limited Options

Selim Mia, a motorcycle ride-share driver waiting since 7:30 am at the Sam Associates station, said: “I’ve been standing in line for over an hour and a half. There is no fuel being sold, and moving to another station is not an option. I would have to push my bike, which is exhausting during fasting.”

In Kallyanpur, Khalek Station and Comfort Filling & CNG were only selling CNG gas, with fuel counters and management offices closed for the day. Meanwhile, at Asadgate’s Talukdar Station, both diesel and octane were available, but queues stretched for over 1.25 kilometres from the entrance, reaching areas near Zia Udyan Lake.

Private car driver Mohsin Hossain, who joined the line shortly before 9 am, stated that he was collecting fuel for the first time since the crisis began, after avoiding the previous day’s extremely long queues. At this station, cashiers confirmed that a total of 27,000 litres of octane had arrived overnight, with 20,000 litres already sold by 10 am, leaving approximately 7,000 litres for the remaining queue.

Extreme Congestion at Major Stations

The longest queues were observed near the Trust Pump on Bijoy Sarani. By 10:45 am, the line of private cars stretched over 1.5 kilometres, extending from Jahangir Gate to Universal Medical in Mohakhali. Motorcycle queues reached the main gate of the Prime Minister’s Office. Similarly, the Sumatra Station in Kalshi saw vehicle lines extending to the vicinity of ECB Chattar by 11:30 am.

The situation illustrates the severe pressure on fuel distribution systems in the capital, with drivers forced to endure extended waits and limited options amid ongoing supply disruptions.