More than 50 filling stations in Rangpur city have been shut down due to an acute shortage of fuel. Pump employees have reportedly fled the stations after closing operations, anticipating backlash from frustrated customers.
The crisis has severely disrupted transportation, with motorcycles and private cars nearly off the roads due to lack of fuel.
According to sources at several filling stations, the shortage began on Thursday evening when fuel supplies from depots in Parbatipur and within the city’s station areas stopped arriving. As a result, station authorities were forced to suspend operations.
At one of the city’s largest filling stations, Northern Traders, fuel dispensers were seen covered with black cloths, signaling a complete halt in sales. Motorcyclists and private car owners were observed returning home after finding no fuel available.
Solaiman Ali, a service holder, said he visited at least 10 filling stations without success. “I have already used over five liters of fuel searching for petrol. Now I have only five to six liters left and don’t know how I will make it to Dhaka,” he said.
Moshtaq Ahmed, an employee of a pharmaceutical company, echoed similar frustration. “I need to travel to Nilphamari for emergency office work. I checked five stations, but all are closed. It seems I won’t be able to go,” he said.
A worker named Aminul, standing outside a closed station, said only 6,000 liters of fuel were supplied on Wednesday, which ran out by noon. “People are losing patience. We shut down the station fearing public anger,” he added.
At another filling station in the Lalbagh area, operations were completely halted. Manager Mostakin said their fuel-carrying tankers reached Parbatipur but failed to secure any supply. “We had no option but to close the station,” he said.
Motorcyclists expressed strong dissatisfaction, blaming the authority concerned for lack of monitoring, which they believe worsened the situation.
Visits to multiple stations across Rangpur revealed long queues of motorcycles and private cars waiting in vain for fuel.
Mostafa Mohsin, organizational secretary of the Filling Station Owners’ Association, said they are unable to sell fuel due to the supply disruption.
“With depots closed on Friday, there is little hope of getting fuel soon. If this continues, it will be impossible to keep stations open,” he said, adding that business owners are now facing serious security concerns as the public grows increasingly agitated.
