The Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petrol Pump Owners Association has issued an urgent appeal for strengthened security at fuel retail outlets nationwide, while urging consumers to refrain from panic buying that risks destabilising the country's fuel distribution system.
At an emergency press conference held at the organisation's office in Gulfesha Plaza, Moghbazar, on Tuesday, the association leaders outlined a series of recommendations aimed at restoring order to petrol pumps and ensuring the uninterrupted implementation of government-mandated fuel rationing measures.
Syed Sajjadul Karim Kabul, convener of the association, expressed grave concern over escalating incidents of unrest, verbal abuse and physical attacks targeting filling station staff across the country.
He noted that filling station operators from Teknaf to Tentulia have been selling fuel strictly at government-approved prices, with workers performing duties from dawn until dusk. Yet, in numerous locations, pumps are being attacked, workers are being subjected to harassment, and in tragic instances, lives have been lost, all based on misinformation and unfounded rumours.
The association emphasised that while geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and volatility in international fuel markets have prompted the government to introduce temporary sales limits, Bangladesh maintains adequate stock levels to meet current demand.
The Ministry of Energy and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation have confirmed there is no permanent fuel crisis, yet social media-driven panic has triggered a surge in consumers attempting to purchase fuel beyond their immediate needs, creating artificial shortages and operational chaos.
The association warned that uncoordinated consumer behaviour poses a tangible risk to supply chain integrity. If every vehicle owner attempts to fill their tank to capacity simultaneously, the entire distribution system will collapse, as one individual's excessive collection directly deprives another of fuel for urgent, essential use.
To mitigate these risks, the organisation proposed several practical measures, including standardising trading hours by limiting fuel sales to the window of 07:00 to 20:00 daily to reduce nighttime congestion, improve staff safety and enable more effective administrative oversight.
They also called for enhanced security deployment, requesting that district administrations deploy dedicated monitoring personnel at high-volume outlets to manage crowds, verify ration compliance and deter antisocial behaviour.
Furthermore, the association urged Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation to align depot dispatches with the verified storage capacity of transport tankers, preventing bottlenecks and ensuring realistic inventory management at retail points, alongside a coordinated public communication campaign to counter misinformation and encourage rational consumer conduct.
Industry analysts note that the current pressures on Bangladesh's downstream fuel sector reflect broader regional supply chain vulnerabilities.
While the country maintains strategic reserves, logistical constraints and heightened global demand have tightened the availability of certain fuel grades, particularly octane. Mohammad Ashraf, a Dhaka-based energy sector consultant, observed that the challenge is not absolute scarcity but distributional efficiency.
When panic buying distorts demand patterns, it creates localised shortages that feed further anxiety, meaning a disciplined, transparent rationing framework, backed by visible enforcement, is essential to break this cycle.
The association also cautioned against attributing systemic challenges solely to retail operators, noting that filling station owners are intermediaries, not policymakers, who operate within parameters set by regulators and suppliers.
Strengthening the government's monitoring and coordination mechanisms, rather than placing unilateral blame on frontline businesses, will yield more sustainable solutions.
The press conference concluded with targeted appeals to all stakeholders. To the public, the Association urged refraining from purchasing fuel beyond immediate requirements, adhering to government-announced rationing limits, avoiding spreading unverified information via social media, and treating pump staff with respect while cooperating with queue management protocols. To the administration, they requested increased visible policing and rapid-response capacity at high-traffic outlets, facilitated real-time coordination between district authorities, BPC and retail operators, and support for implementing standardised trading hours and digital monitoring tools. To the government, they called for expediting the rollout of the proposed digital fuel pass system to enhance transparency and traceability, strengthening public communication channels to provide timely, accurate updates on fuel availability, and considering temporary fiscal or logistical support to help retailers manage increased security and operational costs during this period of heightened demand.
The association stressed that the current situation demands collective responsibility, noting that this is not a challenge any single stakeholder can resolve in isolation. When consumers, retailers, administrators and policymakers work in concert, they can navigate temporary disruptions without compromising long-term energy security or public trust.