Fuel crisis disrupts product supply, drives up transport costs
The ongoing fuel crisis in the country has begun to impact businesses and trade. Transport drivers are facing long waiting times to obtain fuel, and the required quantities are often unavailable, disrupting the supply of essential goods as producers struggle to deliver products on time. Supplies of raw materials for production are also being hampered, raising concerns among businesses about potential breakdowns in the overall supply chain.
The global fuel supply has been adversely affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Within the country, fears of a shortage have led to long queues at filling stations, with people buying fuel in large quantities. In response, on March 6, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) issued instructions to limit fuel supply at filling stations. As a result, many are unable to obtain the fuel they need, and those who do must wait for hours, causing delays in product delivery for companies.
At a filling station in Mohakhali, delivery driver Rakib said, “I joined the queue at 3:30 pm, and it is now 7:00 pm. I still haven’t received fuel. It looks like it will take at least another hour to get my turn.” Rakib, who delivers goods across the city, added that waiting in long queues disrupts his schedule. “I was supposed to deliver products outside Dhaka, but I am still in line. If this continues, delivering on time will become extremely difficult.”
Kamruzzaman Kamal, Marketing Director of PRAN-RFL Group, told Jago News, “The current fuel shortage is directly affecting our supply chain. Insufficient fuel for transport and distribution is delaying deliveries.” Although production costs have not yet increased directly, he explained that idle resources and staff waiting due to fuel shortages could eventually raise production and delivery costs. “Supply chain disruptions not only cost time but also impact expenses,” he said.
Businessmen are also complaining about limited transport options and rising costs. Bishwajit Saha, Director of City Group, told Jago News that even if they operate their own transport system, arranging extra trucks or cargo is difficult and costly, further increasing distribution expenses.
Syed Muhammad Shoaib Hasan, CEO of Hifs Agro Food Industries, said the truck fare from Dhaka to Chattogram, which used to be Tk 10,000, rose to Tk 19,000, and yesterday it reached Tk 30,000. Meanwhile, their factory vehicles need at least 300 liters of diesel daily but received only 100 liters yesterday. “The instability in the transport sector due to fuel shortages has severely impacted us,” he added.
Factories across the country are facing production disruptions due to fuel shortages. Industrial sources said that during power outages, the lack of fuel to operate generators has forced many factories to halt production. They warned that if the shortage continues, it could severely disrupt the supply of essential goods. Since transport and distribution largely depend on fuel, any shortage or price instability could delay the timely delivery of food, daily necessities, and other critical products, leading to shortages, abnormal price hikes, and increased public hardship.
Authorities need to take urgent and effective measures to stabilise fuel supply, strengthen market monitoring, and ensure efficient product distribution. Coordination between the government, suppliers, and the transport sector is crucial to maintain smooth supply chains. With the upcoming Eid festival, the issue has gained further significance, as demand for food, clothing, and other essentials typically rises during this period. Any disruption could create significant problems for those preparing for the celebrations.
According to BPC directives, motorcycles are allocated two liters of fuel per day, private cars ten liters, SUVs, Jeeps, and microbuses 20–25 liters, pickup trucks and local buses 70–80 liters, and long-distance buses, trucks, covered vans, and container trucks 200–220 liters. BPC stated that about 95% of the country’s fuel consumption is met through imports, and global disruptions sometimes delay import arrangements. Negative news about fuel stockpiles via media and social platforms has fueled excessive consumer demand, prompting dealers to collect more fuel from depots than usual.