The country’s fuel crisis is intensifying, with long queues at filling stations growing longer and supply shortages disrupting daily life and key sectors.
While motorists earlier waited two to four hours for fuel, reports now suggest some drivers are queuing for up to 36 hours.
Despite government assurances that supply remains normal, shortages are affecting transportation of agricultural produce, fish and industrial goods, alongside general commuting.
Experts warn that Bangladesh must prioritise imports of fuel oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and coal to manage the situation. Without swift action, they caution, the country could face a severe crisis during the peak summer months.
Officials say Bangladesh is almost entirely dependent on imported fuel. Typically, oil tankers maintain reserves for around 30 days, while total storage capacity—considering depots, tankers and rail wagons—can cover up to 45 days.
However, any disruption in import channels can quickly trigger a crisis, as increasing import capacity requires time and significant cost.
Authorities, including Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), Petrobangla and private coal importers, say they are all facing pressure amid the ongoing crisis.
Fuel oil and LNG
In a recent report submitted to the government, BPC said imports of 18,000 tons of diesel and 15,000 tons of jet fuel have been confirmed. Supplies of 25,000 tons of furnace oil and a similar volume of octane are also expected to arrive in April.
However, a shipment of 30,000 tons of diesel has been delayed until May, while two large consignments totalling 38,500 tons have been cancelled by suppliers.
On April 4, the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the import of 500,000 tons of refined diesel from Kazakhstan and two LNG cargoes from Singapore through direct procurement to meet urgent demand.
Energy officials said the government is also considering importing crude oil from Russia for refining in India, though this could take several months to materialise.
Plans are also underway to source fuel oil and LNG from African countries and the Singapore spot market.
Coal supply concerns
According to the Power Division, Bangladesh has coal-fired generation capacity of around 6,830MW. However, several plants are not operating at full capacity due to coal shortages.
The 1,200MW Matarbari plant is running at reduced load, while the 1,320MW RPCL-Norinco plant has remained shut since November.
Global demand for coal has risen amid the wider energy crisis, with many developed countries increasing coal use, further tightening supply in the international market.
LPG situation
The LPG sector is comparatively stable, though international prices are rising.
Industry sources say demand in May could reach 140,000–150,000 tons, compared to imports of around 177,000 tons in the previous month.
Expert opinions
Energy expert Dr Ijaz Hossain said ensuring fuel supply over the next two months is more critical than cost considerations, given peak summer demand.
He stressed the need to secure coal imports to ensure full operation of coal-based power plants in April and May.
He also noted that LPG is increasingly used beyond cooking, including in transport and industry, and urged the government to ensure uninterrupted supply, even if handled by the private sector.
On LNG, he said additional imports from the spot market should be expedited to address shortages.
Petrobangla Chairman Erfanul Haque said LNG import bookings have been secured until May 7, with further tenders expected to be finalised soon to stabilise supply in May.
Meanwhile, LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh Vice President Humayun Rashid said there is no immediate shortage of LPG, but rising international prices are putting pressure on traders despite regulated pricing.
