Long queues, closed filling stations and limited gas supplies have left CNG-run auto-rickshaw and private car drivers scrambling for fuel across Dhaka, with many spending hours at stations for just Tk20-100 worth of gas.
The shortage was particularly acute in Badda, Tejgaon and areas along the airport road on Wednesday.
Jaman CNG station in Merul Badda was closed, with a notice saying there was no CNG. The station in Middle Badda was also without gas.
Of several stations from Kuril Bishwaroad to the airport, only the one in Khilkhet was operational. Gas supply was also suspended at Akij and other stations in Tejgaon.
Gas was available at stations in Malibagh, Karwan Bazar’s FDC gate, Paribagh and Moghbazar.
The shortage caused severe congestion at several stations. The queue at the Hajipara pump stretched nearly 1km, while a similar situation was seen in Moghbazar. The queue at Paribagh was comparatively shorter.
CNG driver Ibrahim said he had been moving from one station to another in search of gas.
“Now I am running from one pump to another to find out which ones are supplying gas and which ones are not,” he said.
“Some people said the Jaman pump in Merul Badda was supplying gas, but when I came here, I found that it was not. Now I hear that gas is available at the Hajipara pump, but there is a huge queue,” he added.
“There is no other option. I am going there now. I will wait as long as it takes to get gas,” Ibrahim said.
Another CNG driver, Anwar, said he received only Tk60 worth of gas at the FDC gate shortly before 11:30am after waiting around 2.5 hours.
“How long will we be able to run with this amount of gas? What are we supposed to do now?” he said.
Anwar said he had heard the situation could worsen further, with gas potentially becoming unavailable altogether.
“What will we do? What is the way forward for us? The government should tell us,” he said.
Drivers said the few stations still supplying gas were providing such small quantities that it was barely enough to keep their vehicles running.
Private cars were receiving no more than Tk100 worth of gas, while CNGs were getting a maximum of Tk50-60. Some drivers said they were receiving only Tk20 worth.
Private car driver Sohel Rana said his vehicle received Tk100 worth of gas after a long wait.
“How long can a 1,500cc vehicle run on gas worth Tk100?” he asked.
Private car driver Yunus said there was no certainty about which stations would have gas.
“Most of the pumps are closed. The pumps that are open are not providing more than Tk100 worth of gas,” he said.
“If this continues, those who drive CNGs and private cars on contract will not have anything to eat. We will have to die of hunger. Otherwise, we will have to leave everything and resort to theft and robbery,” Yunus said.
He also expressed frustration over shortages of gas, electricity and other essentials.
At the Akij pump, sales employee Tarek said the station could not supply gas when pressure in the line was too low.
“If there is no gas in the line, how can we supply it? Sometimes some gas comes, but the pressure is very low. Even then, we are trying to supply it. But we are helpless,” he said.
Arman Islam, a sales employee at the Jaman pump, said the station supplied gas whenever it received it.
“We supply gas whenever it comes. But if gas does not come, how can we supply it?” he said.
Drivers said thousands could be left without work if the situation continued, as they depend on gas-powered vehicles for their daily income.
They urged the government to take immediate steps to restore normal gas supplies and prevent the crisis from worsening.