The long queues at filling stations across the country do not seem to be abating, with the lines getting longer in some places, even though the fuel stock became slightly healthier compared with last week’s.
As of yesterday, the total stock of octane and petrol stood at 10,500 tonnes and 16,000 tonnes respectively, enough to meet the demand for 9-11 days, according to the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation.
Besides, a ship containing 25,000 tonnes of octane is due today and another ship containing the same volume of the fuel is scheduled in the second half of this month, data shows.
With the upcoming ships and local condensate production, officials are hopeful of ensuring a supply of octane and petrol of up to 60 days.
And yet, in the capital yesterday, queues in petrol pumps in Tejgaon, Mohakhali and Gulshan link road areas started from one filling station and extended up to the next.
Besides, most of the stations in Moghbazar, Malibagh, Banasree, Hazipara, Ramna and Paribagh were facing huge pressure, both from cars and motorcycles over the days.
The waiting vehicles took up the entire first lane of the roads, disrupting traffic flow in those areas.
People are queuing up since the morning, even before the fuel reaches the pumps from depots. The queues are mostly for octane, with some motorcycles lining up for petrol.
Most of the pumps continued to fix an amount per vehicle: up to Tk 500-600 for motorcycle and up to Tk 1,500-2000 for cars.
One such desperate motorcyclist is Rashidul Islam, who needed to refill his fuel tank with octane yesterday or stop using his bike entirely.
“For the last couple of days, I checked out all pumps but due to the long queues, it was not possible for me to refill my tank,” he told The Daily Star as he queued up outside Keeco Filling Station near Banasree for an hour.
The pump faced multiple queues of hundreds of bikes before the dispenser started pumping fuel for the day at around 1:00pm.
Monir Hossain Chowdhury, joint secretary (operations) of energy and mineral resources division, told The Daily Star that they have arrangements for octane supply over the country for the next three months.
The shortage at the pumps is mostly due to panic buying as the supply did not drop until now.
“We are supplying fuel at the same level that we were supplying at this time last year. But due to the huge rush in pumps, the supply is lasting for shorter periods.”
Asked about whether the supply would be increased once the octane shipments arrive, he said: “We can assure that the supply will be stable and aligned with the previous year’s demand.”
Meanwhile, Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, the minister for power, energy and mineral resources, yesterday indicated that the government may consider increasing the fuel prices from next month if needed.
Responding to a notice of urgent public importance raised by MP Shawkatul Islam in the Jatiya Sangsad, he said the fuel prices are adjusted monthly in line with the existing law.
“There is a law regarding fuel price adjustments. According to that law, we review prices every month. Last month, we did not increase the prices. We are currently working on pricing for next month. If, after review, it appears that a price increase is necessary, the matter will be discussed and placed before the cabinet for consideration.”
The ongoing Middle East crisis has strained fuel supply across South Asia.
Pakistan has raised prices by around 50 percent, Sri Lanka has introduced rationing and reduced working hours, while India, Afghanistan, Bhutan, the Maldives and Nepal have already increased the fuel prices.
Bangladesh, however, has kept prices unchanged despite global volatility, considering industrial activity and the livelihoods of ordinary people.
“The government has explored all possible sources to maintain a steady supply of fuel in the country.”
The country has 1,64,644 tonnes of diesel in stock, with another 1,38,000 tonnes expected by April 30. Besides, a total of 71,543 tonnes of octane is due by the end of the month and 36,000 tonnes of petrol are due.
“Bangladesh currently holds sufficient fuel reserves.”
Between March 3 and April 4, the authorities conducted 342 drives against illegal fuel hoarding, filing 2,456 cases. As many as 31 individuals were jailed, fines amounting to Tk 1.25 crore were imposed and 404,456 litres of fuel were recovered, Tuku said.
Of the seized fuel, 333,157 litres were diesel, 36,405 litres octane, and 78,894 litres petrol, he added, noting that such drives will continue.
Meanwhile, in a briefing at the secretariat yesterday, Zahed Ur Rahman, the prime minister’s adviser for information and broadcasting, shared a comparative analysis of fuel supply during March last year and this year. The analysis showed lower diesel and petrol supply but higher octane supply in comparison to last year.
Earlier in the parliament, while providing data between March 1 and 23, Tuku said the supply increased.
Last month, the government supplied 3.63 lakh tonnes of diesel, which was 3.96 lakh last year. Petrol supply was 39,918 tonnes, in contrast to 46,371 tonnes last year, data shows.
The octane supply was increased by 457 tonnes in March this year from 37,439 tonnes last year.
