Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday chaired a special meeting to determine necessary steps to tackle the country’s fuel situation amid rising global oil prices triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The meeting was held in the morning at the Cabinet Division, with the Prime Minister in the chair, his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said.
Earlier, the Prime Minister arrived at his office at 9:02 am, attended to official duties, and later joined the meeting.
He also unveiled a commemorative postage stamp marking Independence and National Day.
A Cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held at 4:00 pm at the Cabinet Division conference room. Rumon said the weekly Cabinet meeting, usually held on Thursdays, was brought forward this week as Independence and National Day falls on Thursday.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chairs a special meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday to discuss measures to address the country’s fuel situation.—PMO photo
Meanwhile, most filling stations across Dhaka remained shut on Wednesday (March 25), days after owners warned of a looming fuel shortage and security concerns.
The Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association said fuel supply remains inadequate, while security risks have intensified, including threats of tanker looting during transportation from depots.
Reports also suggest chaotic scenes at some stations, with buyers purchasing fuel repeatedly for resale. There have also been allegations of looting, including forced nighttime openings of pumps and threats to tanker security.
At those few filling stations that remain open, fuel is being sold in limited quantities at specific times, leading to long queues and growing frustration among drivers.
A visit to several filling stations in Dhaka on Wednesday revealed the extent of the crisis, as motorists spent hours waiting outside stations, unsure whether their turn would come.
At Purbachal Traders filling station in Paribagh, operations were halted due to a shortage of oil, although gas supply remained normal.
An employee, Sujan, said the owner had gone to the depot early in the morning to secure supplies but had yet to receive any. “If the oil arrives, we may resume sales around 3 pm,” he said.
He added that the station’s daily demand stands at 30,000-35,000 litres, but the depot is supplying only around 9,000 litres every other day. “We need 60,000-70,000 litres over two days, but we are forced to manage with a fraction of that,” he said.
In contrast, the Meghna Model Service Centre nearby was operating, but under restrictions. A long queue of vehicles stretched towards Shahbagh as motorists waited their turn.
Md Shah Alam, an employee at the station, said motorcycles were being given a maximum of five litres each from 7 am to 8 pm, while private cars were served based on availability.
Motorcyclist Riazul Islam, who had been waiting for over two hours, said, “There’s no guarantee we’ll get fuel even after standing this long. I can’t go back without it. If I don’t get fuel today, I may have to push my bike home.”
At the Army-run Trust Fuel Station in Bijoy Sarani, sales were temporarily suspended due to a shortage, though a tanker was seen unloading fuel. A large crowd had already gathered, waiting for distribution to resume.
A worker at the station said fuel sales would begin as soon as unloading was complete.
Frustration among motorists is growing. Amzed Hossain, another waiting rider, said securing fuel has become a daily struggle. “People now have to set aside three to four hours just to get fuel. The government says there is enough supply, but we are not seeing it. If there is a shortage, they should be transparent so people can plan accordingly,” he said.
A similar scene was observed in Asadgate, where Talukdar Filling Station was closed due to a lack of fuel. Opposite it, Sonar Bangla Filling Station remained open but overwhelmed, with a long queue stretching from Asadgate to Mohammadpur.
Motorcycle rider Sajjad, who had been waiting for two hours, expressed doubt about getting fuel. “A few days ago, I waited all day only to find the pump closed. There’s no assurance even after all this suffering,” he said.
With inputs from UNB