DHAKA, Mar 30 (V7N) – An "undeclared crisis" has emerged across the capital’s fuel stations as global oil supply disruptions, triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict, hit the local market. On Monday morning, several filling stations in Dhaka were forced to suspend operations, while those remaining open introduced strict rationing to manage dwindling stocks.

Rationing at the Pump: Paribagh and Beyond

At the Meghna Model Servicing Centre and other pumps in the Paribagh area, authorities have implemented a tiered rationing system to prevent total depletion:

  • Motorcycles: Limited to 5 liters of octane per visit.

  • Private Cars: Capped at 10 liters per visit.

  • Impact: The restrictions have resulted in massive tailbacks, with queues of vehicles stretching over 200–300 meters. Many drivers, particularly ride-share motorcyclists, reported waiting for over three hours only to receive a fraction of their daily requirement.

"Undeclared Crisis" and Pump Closures

While the government has not officially announced a nationwide shortage, the ground reality reflects a significant supply-demand gap.

  • Closed Stations: Multiple pumps in Tejgaon, Malibagh, and near the Hotel InterContinental remained shut on Monday morning, displaying "No Stock" signs.

  • Panic Buying: Uncertainty regarding the duration of the Middle East war has led to a surge in demand as consumers attempt to stockpile fuel, further straining the already limited reserves.

  • Logistical Strains: Filling station owners in Dhaka and Chattogram have complained that they are receiving only 20% to 30% of their usual daily allocation from state-owned depots.

Government Response: Tag Officers and Monitoring

To combat hoarding and ensure the "depot-to-pump-to-consumer" chain remains transparent, the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources has taken several emergency steps:

  1. Appointment of Tag Officers: Effective Sunday, a "Tag Officer" has been assigned to every filling station in Dhaka and Chattogram to verify daily opening/closing stocks and monitor meter readings.

  2. BGB Deployment: Paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed to 19 major fuel depots across nine districts to prevent unauthorized lifting and smuggling.

  3. Strict Enforcement: In Jashore, a mobile court fined a petrol pump Tk 40,000 on Sunday for creating an "artificial crisis" by halting sales despite having over 800 liters of petrol in stock.

Global Context

The shortage is a direct result of the war in the Middle East, which has seen Brent crude prices soar past $110 per barrel. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have delayed several scheduled shipments to Chattogram Port, though the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) maintains that fresh tankers are expected to arrive by early April.

END/SMA/AJ