Most oil pumps closed in Bangladesh, fuel crisis intensifies

POBNEWS24, Dhaka Mar 10, 2026 : The oil market in Bangladesh is in turmoil due to fears that a war with Iran will lead to a fuel crisis. On Tuesday, a visit to the site also showed long lines of private motorcycles at the pumps. The fuel crisis in the capital Dhaka is intensifying. Several pumps could not resume normal operations on Tuesday morning due to supply crisis. There were also fights between customers at some pumps in the capital.
Motorcycle and car drivers were seen coming and going to get oil. However, the pumps that are still operating are dispensing fuel in accordance with government instructions.
A long queue of vehicles was seen at the Trust Filling Station in Tejgaon. After waiting for one and a half to two hours, the desired fuel was available. Drivers say that the government must take effective steps to alleviate this suffering. They also alleged that some are illegally hoarding oil.
Meanwhile, 5,000 metric tons of diesel are coming to Bangladesh from the Numaligarh refinery in Assam, India to ease the ongoing fuel crisis. Muhammad Morshed Hossain Azad, General Manager of the Commerce and Operations Department of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, confirmed the matter.
He said that the pumping of diesel has already started. This diesel will reach Bangladesh by Tuesday through the pipeline. The government has taken this initiative on an urgent basis to maintain normal fuel stocks and ensure uninterrupted supply.
Last week, Bangladesh Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury requested Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to supply diesel in an interview at his office in the Secretariat in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has decided to supply a maximum of 5 liters of octane or petrol to ride-share motorcycle drivers within Dhaka metropolis. This information was given in a press release signed by BPC Secretary Shahina Sultana on Tuesday.
The release said that in order to reduce the fear and anxiety of the people of the country, it is being informed that in order to maintain the normal supply of fuel oil in the country, import activities or schedules have been scheduled and are being brought to the country regularly in parcels. In addition, fielders are being sent to all depots across the country through rail wagons or tankers regularly from temporary headquarters. Some decisions have been taken by the Energy and Mineral Resources Department-BPC to maintain the supply of fuel oil as per the demand of the people.
According to the new decision, from now on, motorcycle drivers involved in ride sharing will be able to take a maximum of 5 liters of octane or petrol daily.
The production and supply of oil and gas are being disrupted amid the war between the United States and Israel and Iran. Panicked people in Bangladesh are buying more oil in large quantities. In such a situation, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has reduced the supply of fuel oil at filling stations. The stations are being given 25 percent less oil than they took at this time last year. The government says there is oil in stock. However, the supply has been reduced due to savings.
Two instructions were issued by the police headquarters on Sunday. One of them is to increase the security of fuel installations. It says that the security of oil refineries, oil depots, pumps and fuel storage facilities must be strengthened and additional security measures must be taken if necessary. Regular supervision and necessary legal measures must be taken to prevent artificial shortages of fuel oil, hoarding and black marketing, strict vigilance must be maintained so that no person or institution can buy and sell fuel oil illegally, and legal action must be taken quickly if such activities are detected.
Most petrol pumps in districts outside the capital are closed. The district administration has been operating mobile courts at the oil pumps. The government has deployed police and army at all the pumps at the request of petrol pump owners.