Dhaka, March 24 — Several petrol pumps across Dhaka remained closed Tuesday as shortages of petrol and octane left motorists searching for unreliable supplies. At one busy city station, operations were suspended in the afternoon while staff awaited a fresh delivery. Employees said they could not secure fuel earlier because payment processing was delayed.
Aminul Islam, the station’s assistant manager, said the delay occurred because the bank was closed when payment for the consignment needed to be made. He said that although the bank later opened and the payment was completed, the fuel delivery had not yet arrived. The station, which sold both petrol and octane, had run out of both products earlier in the day. Staff said they did not know how much fuel to expect in the next shipment and that the station would reopen only after the delivery arrived.
The shortages have been aggravated by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which suppliers say has intensified supply disruptions in Bangladesh. At many pumps across the country this has produced long queues, chaotic scenes and growing frustration among customers. Pump owners have warned they may suspend supplies unless the situation is addressed, and they have urged authorities to provide security at stations and for the government to act decisively.
In a statement on Facebook, the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners’ Association said the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and the oil companies under it are supplying daily volumes that are clearly insufficient for current demand. The association highlighted the toll on the public and on pump workers: millions of motorcyclists and other motorists are being forced to wait in long lines for hours, leaving many exhausted and angry, while nozzle operators and attendants face relentless pressure, frequent confrontations with upset customers and demands they are not accustomed to handling.
Reported by ANI.
