Fuel hoarding, rather than an actual shortage, has emerged as the primary concern in Bangladesh’s energy sector, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku told Parliament on Monday.
“Let me be clear: there is no fuel shortage in the country. On the contrary, supply has increased compared to last year,” he said while delivering a statement under Rule 300. Diesel stocks have risen from 2,06,000 tonnes on 17 February to 2,18,000 tonnes by 30 March, even after about 4,82,000 tonnes were sold over the past 41 days.
The minister highlighted unusual consumer behaviour, noting instances of motorcycles collecting 15-20 litres daily instead of the usual five litres. At Tejgaon Trust Filling Station, average daily octane sales nearly doubled from 5,400 litres in March 2025 to 10,620 litres this year, marking a 96 per cent increase.
Authorities have intensified enforcement, conducting 3,168 drives nationwide, filing 1,053 cases, imposing fines of Tk75 lakh, and imprisoning 16 individuals. Approximately 2.08 lakh litres of fuel, including 1.4 lakh litres of diesel, 22,000 litres of octane and 23,000 litres of petrol, were recovered during these operations.
To ensure uninterrupted supply, the government has arranged 50,000 tonnes of octane imports in April and an additional 30,000 tonnes from domestic sources, sufficient to meet almost two months’ demand.
Minister Tuku also stressed the importance of responsible fuel use, noting that unnecessary hoarding not only disrupts supply but creates serious fire hazards. Diesel is being sold at Tk100 per litre against an actual cost of Tk189, and octane at Tk120 versus Tk150.72, requiring a projected subsidy of Tk16,045 crore for the March–June period, including Petrobangla’s needs.
“It is time for discipline and awareness in energy consumption. Public cooperation is essential to maintain stability and safety,” the minister added.
