Saiful, a private car driver, was waiting in a long queue at a petrol pump near Asad Gate in the early hours of Thursday, hoping to refuel later in the day.
Although the pump was not supplying octane or petrol at the time, vehicles had begun lining up from midnight in anticipation of its opening the following morning.
A similar scene was observed the same night near Mohakhali rail crossing and in the Paribag area, where long lines of vehicles stretched as motorists waited to purchase fuel from the Tejgaon Trust filling station and Paribag filling stations once they opened in the morning.
Such experiences have now become the new normal for Dhaka’s motorists, who are increasingly struggling to access fuel across much of the capital amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East and volatility in the global fuel market, triggering widespread disruption in fuel supply in Dhaka and other major cities in Bangladesh.
Despite government assurances of sufficient stock, residents, commuters and emergency workers—including ambulance drivers, law enforcement personnel and journalists—are struggling to access petrol and diesel, with long queues at filling stations and many leaving empty-handed.
A journalist, who wished to remain unnamed, said, “I spent the entire night driving around Dhaka looking for fuel—from Kuril to Mohakhali, Asadgate, Paribag—but found nothing. The situation was extremely frustrating.”
He added that it has affected his daily life, working hours and transportation costs, which have increased significantly.
Sabbir Rahman, a resident of the capital’s Vatara, echoed the sentiment, saying, “Even after waiting for hours, the fuel we received was insufficient. If this continues, people’s lives will be severely disrupted.”
Expressing concern, ambulance driver Rubel Mia reported delays in reaching hospitals and emergency care units.
A doctor, Ovijan Saha, said, “We’ve had to cancel routine calls because ambulances are low on fuel. Every minute counts in emergencies, and queues are costing lives.”
Pharmacists and public health official Zunayed Karim are also facing challenges in restocking medicines and maintaining disease control services.
Another pharmacist at a reputed pharmaceutical company said, “We can’t ensure essential medicines reach hospitals on time. Fuel scarcity is directly affecting public health.”
A police officer said, “Fuel shortages slow our patrols and response to incidents. Long queues at pumps are a constant worry for public safety.”
Rahim Sheikh, an electricity grid operator, reported obstacles in reaching substations and maintaining supply.
A DESCO official said, “Without fuel for maintenance vehicles, ensuring stable electricity is a challenge. Even minor disruptions have large-scale effects.”
Md Alamin, a truck driver delivering food and medical supplies, stated, “Every delivery is delayed. Shelves are empty, and hospitals are stressed. Fuel scarcity is causing a ripple effect.”
What can be done to minimize the crisis?
Neighboring Sri Lanka introduced the National Fuel Pass, a QR code-based digital system to regulate fuel distribution during periods of shortage, ensuring fair access and reducing long queues at filling stations.
Accessible via an official platform, the system requires vehicle owners to register online to receive a unique QR code, which must be presented—either digitally or in printed form—when purchasing fuel.
Under the scheme, fuel purchases are strictly limited by weekly quotas assigned to each vehicle category.
As of March 2026, private cars are allowed up to 25 litres per week, three-wheelers 20 litres, and motorcycles 8 litres.
The initiative was launched by the Sri Lankan government at the height of its economic crisis to curb panic buying and streamline fuel distribution.
Authorities say the system has helped significantly reduce congestion at fuel stations and ensure more equitable access to limited supplies.
In Indonesia and Vietnam, similar digital payment systems are used to track fuel consumption.
Bangladeshi pump owners are also suggesting the introduction of such a mechanism to prevent fuel hoarding and duplicate purchasing amid panic buying.
Md Najmul Haque, president of the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners’ Association, said, “Pump owners and staff are struggling to meet demand. Long queues create tense situations, and administrative support is necessary.”
He added that a fuel card system has been proposed as a potential solution.
“If the government sets fuel quotas for motorbikes, private cars, jeeps and microbuses, we can supply them accordingly. It will prevent overuse and make distribution more manageable.”
Fuel Pass app launched to streamline fuel distribution
Amid this backdrop, the government of Bangladesh on Thursday launched a pilot program for a QR code-based “Fuel Pass” app, requiring vehicle owners to verify allocated fuel amounts before refueling.
The initiative is being implemented by the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources and the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Initially, the system is being piloted at two filling stations in Dhaka—Trust Filling Station in Tejgaon and Sonar Bangla Filling Station in Asadgate—exclusively for motorcycle riders.
Officials said the manual fuel distribution system often leads to long queues and irregularities, with some individuals collecting fuel multiple times beyond their actual needs, creating artificial shortages.
A ministry source said the digital system would enable real-time monitoring of fuel distribution and allocations, reducing opportunities for misuse.
The central dashboard will provide an instant overview of nationwide fuel stock levels and distribution patterns, helping improve management during supply fluctuations.
How the system works
The Fuel Pass system is integrated with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) central database, allowing verification of vehicle and owner information.
Vehicle owners without smartphones can register online through the Fuel Pass website and print their QR codes. At filling stations, scanning the code will display the driver’s fuel allocation.
Benefits and oversight
Station owners will be able to input allocation data digitally, reducing discrepancies, while authorities can track fuel stocks and distribution patterns nationwide in real time.
A senior BPC official said the platform would modernize fuel distribution, ensure proper allocation and significantly reduce queues and irregularities.
Another official said linking the system with the BRTA database allows instant verification, prevents misuse and supports real-time monitoring, which is crucial for national fuel security.
Application process and expansion
To obtain a Fuel Pass, users must apply via fuelpass.gov.bd using details of vehicles registered with BRTA. After verification through a one-time password (OTP), registration can be completed.
Required documents may include a National Identity Card (NID), vehicle registration (blue book), driving license, active mobile number and a passport-sized photograph.
Initially limited to motorcycle riders in Dhaka, the system is expected to be expanded gradually to all vehicle types nationwide.
Officials said the initiative would strengthen energy security and ensure a more transparent, efficient and technology-driven fuel distribution system.
However, in some districts of Bangladesh, including Chuadanga and Satkhira, the fuel card system was already installed at the beginning of April.
Several Dhaka motorists suggested, while speaking with the newspaper, that the government should expand the proposed fuel card system to all vehicles to ease public suffering and curb panic buying.
