Fuel Crisis Paralyzes Dhaka as Drivers Wait 15 Hours in a Queue

06/04/2026

Fuel Crisis Paralyzes Dhaka as Drivers Wait 15 Hours in a Queue

DHAKA, Apr 6: Dhaka is currently grappling with a severe fuel shortage that has paralyzed city traffic, with vehicles forming hours-long, stagnant queues at filling stations. According to reports from The Daily Star, the situation has reached a breaking point, with commuters enduring up to 15-hour waits only to face strict rationing.

The Impact on Commuters

The crisis is heavily impacting the city's workforce. Jan-E-Alam, a rent-a-car driver, told The Daily Star that he spent 15 exhausting hours in a queue at a station near Mohakhali yesterday. Upon reaching the pump, he was limited to Tk 2,000 worth of octane—far below his operational needs. "I usually drive over 100km a day, meaning I have to return to these queues every two days," he said. "It is becoming impossible to manage work."

This strain has led to mounting tensions at stations, where motorists have clashed with staff over sudden sales caps and the perceived prioritization of vehicles belonging to defense personnel.

Rationing and Station Closures

In areas such as Tejgaon, Mohakhali, and the Gulshan link road, fuel stations are struggling to manage overwhelming demand. Most operators have been forced to implement rationing, typically limiting motorcycles to Tk 500–600 and cars to Tk 1,500–2,000. The Daily Star observed that many stations, including SR, Tashofa, and Shohag, have been forced to close entirely or display "No Octane" signs due to depleted reserves.

Official Response and Market Outlook

The government maintains that the shortages are driven by panic buying rather than a lack of inventory. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku noted that the surge is evident at the pump: sales at the Trust Filling Station, for example, rose to 10,620 litres per day in March, up from 5,400 litres in March 2025.

According to data from the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC):

A vessel carrying 25,000 tonnes of octane arrived on April 1, with another similar shipment expected by mid-April.

A vessel carrying 27,000 tonnes of diesel from Singapore reached Chattogram Port yesterday, and another 30,000-tonne shipment is expected within days.

Current national stocks stand at roughly 150,000 tonnes.

Potential Price Adjustments

While the government previously ruled out immediate price hikes, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury hinted that domestic price adjustments may become inevitable. Speaking at an event in Chattogram, he warned that continuing to procure fuel at elevated global prices would erode public funds and disrupt essential social safety net programs, stating that a price adjustment is necessary in the "national interest."