Prime Minister’s Adviser on policy and strategy, Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, on Tuesday said the country is facing “some problems” in fuel supply, though the situation is not as difficult as widely perceived.
He made the remarks at a press conference at the Press and Information Department in the Bangladesh Secretariat. Zahed also serves as the prime minister’s adviser for the ministries of information and broadcasting, and cultural affairs.
Addressing concerns over long queues at filling stations, he said the supply has not dropped significantly when compared year-on-year, although there have been slight fluctuations in some categories.
According to official data, diesel supply stood at 3,96,098 tonnes in 2025, declining to 3,63,512 tonnes in March this year. Octane supply, however, rose slightly to 37,439 tonnes in March 2026 from 36,982 tonnes in the same period last year. Petrol supply fell from 46,371 tonnes to 39,998 tonnes.
“When petrol supply drops by around 7,000 tonnes, that is just over 10 per cent. In the current global context, I do not think this is very unusual,” he said, adding that reports suggesting a complete shortage of petrol or octane are exaggerated.
The adviser pointed to illegal hoarding and panic buying as key factors behind the visible strain in the market. “There are indications of stockpiling in homes and in border areas, which also raises the risk of smuggling,” he said.
He noted that lower domestic fuel prices compared to neighbouring countries could incentivise smuggling, while public anxiety is also driving people to buy and store fuel in advance.
Providing an update on enforcement efforts, he said that as of the morning of April 6, authorities had identified stockpiles of 1,14,122 tonnes of diesel, 10,151 tonnes of octane, and 13,805 metric of petrol.
Zahed Ur Rahman also highlighted the mounting subsidy burden in the energy sector.
He said outstanding liabilities include Tk 20,272 crore to independent power producers (IPPs), Tk 2,904 crore to Adani Power, Tk 6,434 crore to joint venture plants, Tk 10,045 crore to Petrobangla, and Tk 7,303 crore to government power companies.
“There is significant pressure from subsidies. The government is trying to manage this so that the impact on ordinary people remains limited, but some pressure is inevitable,” he said.
He added that the government has decided not to raise fuel prices for at least another month, despite global trends. “We want to wait and observe. However, if the situation worsens, tougher decisions may be necessary,” he said, stressing the need for clear communication with the public on any future measures.