Fuel Shortage Strains Eid Travel

Motorists across the capital continue to endure significant hardship in securing fuel during the second day of the Eid holidays, as supply disruptions and distribution limitations strain the system. At many filling stations where fuel remains available, long queues of vehicles have become a common sight, while others have been forced to shut temporarily due to depleted stocks. Unless the situation improves promptly, public suffering is expected to intensify.

Fuel distribution has been further complicated by the scheduled closure of depots on the day of Eid and the following day, halting supply at a critical time of heightened demand. Although authorities have assured that shipments are on the way, the immediate shortage has already disrupted normal transport operations and daily routines.

The state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation is responsible for the import and wholesale distribution of petroleum products. Its operations are supported by three government-run marketing companies—Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna—which collectively manage a nationwide network of depots supplying approximately two and a half thousand filling stations. These outlets provide petrol, octane, and diesel to consumers across the country.

According to an official directive issued recently, fuel supply between 19 and 22 March is to be maintained at a minimum essential level. However, depot closures during Eid will temporarily interrupt the supply chain. Normalised distribution, aligned with demand patterns from the previous year, is expected to resume between 23 and 25 March.

Sources within the energy division indicate that a total of eighteen fuel-carrying vessels are scheduled to arrive this month. Of these, seven have already discharged their cargo. Six additional vessels are expected to arrive in the coming week, including four carrying diesel and one transporting furnace oil. However, the schedules of five vessels remain uncertain, raising concerns about potential supply gaps. Another shipment may arrive in the first week of April. Any delays in these arrivals could exacerbate the already fragile stock situation.

To mitigate the risk, the government is exploring alternative procurement strategies. Plans have been finalised to import one hundred thousand tonnes of diesel and twenty-five thousand tonnes of octane from Saudi Arabia, while negotiations are underway to secure an additional two hundred thousand tonnes of diesel from Kazakhstan.

A summary of the expected fuel shipments is presented below:

Field observations across key areas of the capital reveal the severity of the crisis. At Khilkhet, motorists were seen waiting for hours as fuel delivery had yet to begin even by mid-morning. In Mohakhali, some stations reported having only diesel in stock, while others remained closed pending fresh supplies. Elsewhere, stations were limited to compressed gas distribution as liquid fuel stocks had run out overnight.

In Gulshan and Bijoy Sarani, queues stretched for considerable distances, with some drivers arriving as early as dawn in hopes of securing fuel. The prolonged waiting times and uncertainty have caused widespread frustration among commuters, highlighting the urgent need for stabilising supply during the festive period.