The capital is experiencing a sharp shortage of petrol and octane as fuel pumps across Dhaka struggle to cope with a surge in demand driven by panic buying and fears over global supply disruptions.
The situation deteriorated further on Saturday as a growing number of filling stations suspended sales after running out of fuel.
A visit to Hajipara Petrol Pump around noon revealed staff using megaphones to inform drivers that both petrol and octane were unavailable.
Despite ropes blocking the entrance and a sign reading “No petrol or octane,” many motorists continued waiting outside the station in hopes that supplies might arrive.
Frustrated commuters reported spending hours moving from one station to another.
“We have already checked four pumps since morning, and none of them had fuel,” one motorcyclist said.
“Searching for petrol is actually burning the little fuel left in our tanks,” he added.
Since Friday afternoon, many filling stations have displayed “No stock” notices, prompting a visible decline in the number of private cars and motorcycles on city roads.
The shortage has coincided with broader energy conservation measures.
Several filling stations have also temporarily shut down due to the lack of supplies. At Ramna Filling Station, operations remained suspended from Friday with a notice posted at the gate.
“We are completely out of petrol and octane. There is little chance of receiving fresh supplies before Sunday afternoon,” said Shamser Ali, a salesman at the station.
He added that although the pump still had a limited stock of diesel, many customers were leaving disappointed because they were primarily seeking petrol or octane.
Industry insiders say the shortage has been aggravated by a wave of fuel hoarding triggered by escalating tensions involving Iran. The crisis has raised concerns about disruptions in global energy supply chains.
Although government officials have previously assured that national fuel reserves remain sufficient, the sudden spike in demand has strained the distribution network.
Motorcyclists who manage to locate stations with available fuel report waiting in long queues for hours, only to face restrictions on the quantity they are allowed to purchase.
