Dhaka’s gas crisis has spilled onto the streets, forcing CNG-run vehicles into hours-long queues at the few filling stations still operating and squeezing drivers’ incomes as many pumps across the capital shut during the day because of critically low pressure.
From Badda and Tejgaon to Malibagh and Mohakhali, drivers said they were spending three to four hours in queues only to receive Tk60-Tk160 worth of CNG, sometimes barely enough to earn back the time and money lost waiting.
The shortage is also beginning to affect commuters.
Drivers said fewer CNG-run auto-rickshaws, rental cars and ride-sharing vehicles were operating, while some were demanding higher fares to compensate for hours spent searching and waiting for fuel.
Sohel Rana, a contract car driver in Banasree, joined the queue at a CNG station in Demra on Thursday morning. By 8:30am, he was still waiting and expected it would take at least another hour.
For drivers like him, switching to petrol or octane is hardly an alternative.
Sohel Rana said: “The cost of oil is high. If we drive a car on oil, we will have nothing left after adding the contract money and the ancillary expenses. And if we drive a car on gas, we can run our family with the remaining money from the contract money. That is why we drive on gas. In the current gas crisis, it is difficult for rent-a-car drivers like us to survive.”
Driver Sanaullah travelled as far as Madanpur in search of CNG after hearing about long queues inside Dhaka.
He said he arrived at a station around 9pm on Wednesday and waited about three hours before receiving only Tk160 worth of gas. He later queued again for another two and a half hours and received Tk120 worth.
Sanaullah said: “What is happening is unbelievable. In my 15 years of driving experience, I have never been in such a situation.”
For CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers, whose daily earnings depend on keeping their vehicles moving for as many hours as possible, the queues are proving even more punishing.
CNG driver Abul Hossain said: “It takes three to four hours waiting in the gas line. After that, we get only Tk60 to Tk100 worth of gas. That gas runs out after earning around Tk100 in fares. If we join the queue again, the whole day is gone. So when will we earn our fare, our deposit and the vehicle deposit?”
He said: “This situation has never happened. Drivers are in misery.”
Another CNG driver, Anisur Rahman, said: “Time is running out to get gas. When will we drive? If this continues, we will have no choice but to die.”
A visit to several areas of Dhaka found many CNG stations closed during the day, including pumps in Badda, Khilkhet, Tejgaon, Karwan Bazar, Mirpur, Airport, Malibagh, Mugda, Maniknagar and Moghbazar. At stations still supplying gas, long queues had formed while pressure remained extremely low.
Both CNG stations visited in the Tejgaon area were closed.
Sales worker Tarek said: “We were able to provide gas at night. Now it is closed. We may be able to provide it in the afternoon.”
He said: “We were able to provide gas at low pressure until the morning. Now the pressure is very low. That is why it is closed.”
At Malibagh, salesperson Sabbir said: “We are providing gas but the pressure is very low. CNG is being provided only on the request of private car drivers. Otherwise, we would keep it closed.”
At Zaman CNG station in Merul Badda, salesperson Rabbi said: “Now, gas is not being provided. It may be available at night.”
He said: “We started providing gas around 11pm last night. We provided it until morning.”
With pumps unable to maintain daytime supplies and drivers losing productive hours in queues, the energy shortage is no longer confined to households, industries and power plants.
It is increasingly disrupting Dhaka’s transport system, leaving drivers struggling to earn and commuters paying the price.