Residents of the capital are enduring significant hardship due to an acute fuel shortage, as long queues continue to form at petrol pumps across the capital. Motorcyclists and private car owners are waiting for hours, often from early morning until late night, in the hope of refueling, yet many are forced to return empty-handed.
The ongoing fuel crisis has pushed the suffering of ordinary commuters to extreme levels, raising serious concerns about the management and supply of essential energy resources in the capital.
After visiting several filling stations, it was found that lines of vehicles stretching long distances, with drivers waiting for extended periods. Many commuters report moving from one station to another without success, causing major disruptions to daily routines and livelihoods.
On Friday, most of the filling stations in the capital remained closed for fuel distribution since morning. Despite visible notices reading “No Fuel,” numerous motorcyclists continued to queue, leaving their bikes in line from morning until midday. Delays in fuel supply from depots have further exacerbated the crisis.
At several key stations, including Path-er Bondhu Filling Station in Nilkhet, Moin Motor Filling Station in Moghbazar, K.G. Samdani (the first petrol pump in Dhaka), and Ramna Filling Station, drivers were seen waiting in long lines despite the absence of fuel.
At Meghna Petrol Pump in Motijheel, 28-year-old motorcyclist Sajib Ahmed said he had waited nearly four hours in line. He recalled that just four days earlier, he spent approximately six hours at Trust Filling Station in the Bijoy Sarani area but failed to obtain fuel. Eventually, he managed to refuel at another station. This time, he joined the queue even before fuel arrived, hoping for better luck.
Motorcyclists and general commuters in the capital are reportedly facing severe difficulties due to long queues and alleged fuel shortages at petrol stations, despite official assurances that there is no supply crisis.
Sajib, a motorcyclist with 10 years of riding experience, described his ordeal to DhakaTribune, saying: “I have been riding motorcycles for 10 years, but I have never experienced such hardship for fuel. I had to stand at a pump overnight, yet still couldn’t get fuel. We are forced to wait for hours just to refuel. The government says there is no fuel crisis, but every petrol station has long queues and fuel is not being distributed properly. The heat is unbearable—it feels like life is being drained out of us. Only God knows when this suffering will end.”
Another rider, Rahat Minhaj (26), shared a similar experience, saying he recently had to wait nearly 14 hours to refuel at a filling station in the Parliament area.
“Since the fuel shortage started, I no longer use my bike like before. I only take it out when absolutely necessary. It is impossible to explain how difficult it is to refuel once the tank is empty. Today, I have already been waiting in line for three and a half hours. I don’t know when I will be able to go home,” he said.
Meanwhile, allegations have surfaced of preferential treatment at several fuel stations in the capital. . These reports have reportedly led to frequent altercations and tense situations between customers and petrol pump staff.
Authorities have yet to issue a detailed response addressing the allegations of uneven distribution and long waiting times.
Motorists and general consumers at fuel stations have alleged that many individuals are bypassing queues by falsely claiming to be government officials, secretaries, or other administrative personnel. Some are also reportedly obtaining fuel through phone calls to attendants or via influential connections, further increasing public inconvenience.
At the Moin Motors Filling Station in Mogbazar, a motorbike rider, Rabbi, said, “We wait 10–12 hours to get fuel, and sometimes we don’t get any at all. But some people use their influence and get fuel instantly without standing in line. Some even pay an extra 100–200 taka to pump workers to get fuel through unofficial means, which forces us to wait even longer.”
Meanwhile, petrol pump owners say they are receiving fuel in quantities insufficient to meet demand, resulting in long queues and prolonged waiting times for consumers. They argue that the crisis will persist unless supply is aligned with demand and call for stronger monitoring to prevent stockpiling and irregular practices.
They further stated that the ongoing fuel shortage is not solely due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, but has also been exacerbated by alleged irregularities within the supply and distribution chain.