A sudden scarcity of octane, a widely used fuel, was reported on Sunday at several filling stations in the capital, causing serious difficulties for the drivers of different vehicles.
Filling station operators claimed that the supply of octane, petrol, and diesel has decreased due to halted imports and dwindling reserves caused by the Iran-Israel conflict.
However, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPC) said that there is still a sufficient supply of fuel in the country, adding that a fresh cargo is expected to arrive on Tuesday.
According to a BPC official, the shortage has been artificially created by owners in anticipation of a fuel price hike.
But since the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources announced that prices will remain unchanged, fuel that was previously withheld is now being sold again.
According to BPC and the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association, Bangladesh requires between 1,000 and 1,200 tons of petrol and octane daily, making it the second most in-demand fuel after diesel.
Currently, about 70% of vehicles—especially motorcycles, large trucks, and covered vans—run on octane.
Bangladesh has more than 300 filling stations, half of which see a significant demand for octane.
A visit to several stations revealed that many vehicles were being turned away due to a lack of octane.
In some stations where octane was available, the supply was too limited to meet demand.
Mohammad Sakib, a staff member at MS Talukdar Filling and Service Station at Asad Gate, told Dhaka Tribune: “Due to the Iran-Israel war, oil shipments to Bangladesh have stopped. As a result, depot supplies, especially of octane and petrol, are significantly lower.”
Mohammad Rony, working at Diganta Filling Station in Mirpur, shared similar concerns. “We are not receiving fuel from the depots. They told us that the fuel expected from Iran has been cut off due to the war. So now, fuel is being supplied based on station-wise demand and importance,” he said.
An employee at Clean Fuel Station in Mohakhali said: “There was a shortage of octane in the morning, but we began receiving supplies later in the afternoon.”
Shortage expected for 3-4 days
Mohammad Nazmul Haque, president of the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Owners Association, told Dhaka Tribune: “Bangladesh does not currently have sufficient stock of diesel, petrol, or octane. The government will not admit it, but we have learned that a shipment from Iran was recalled mid-route.”
He added: “Now, the government has imported 25,000 tons of fuel from Singapore, expected to arrive in the next few days.”
He said fuel is being prioritized for filling stations with higher demand, while others receive less.
“Moreover, many people are panic buying. For example, someone who needs 4 litres is now buying 10 litres. So, until new shipments arrive, there will be a mild fuel scarcity for the next three to four days,” he said.
Price hike speculation
An official from the Petrol Pump Owners Association, asking for anonymity, said that while there is enough fuel in the depots, an artificial scarcity has been created in the hope of a price increase in July.
Dr AKM Azadur Rahman, director (operations) at BPC, told Dhaka Tribune that the current situation stems from market manipulation amid fears of a price increase.
“Our 10-to-15-day fuel reserve dropped to five days due to the Iran-Israel war and potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which delayed one shipment. But even with reduced stock, we were not in crisis. Traders began hoarding fuel, anticipating a price rise in July.”
“To counter this, the ministry declared that fuel prices will remain unchanged for the next month, forcing traders to start selling again.”
He added that a cargo carrying 500,000 tons of fuel is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday night.
Once it arrives, he said, there will be no fuel shortage.