An indefinite shutdown of filling stations in Sylhet has raised concerns over fuel supply disruption, as owners suspended operations in protest against fines and intensified regulatory enforcement.
The decision was announced late Wednesday night by leaders of the Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petroleum Owners Association’s Sylhet divisional committee.
General Secretary Humayun Ahmed said station owners had agreed to halt fuel sales across the district, citing what they described as excessive monitoring, deployment of enforcement officers and repeated financial penalties.
Owners said operating conditions had become increasingly difficult due to the presence of designated “tag officers”, continuous audits by multiple agencies and the posting of police personnel at stations. They also raised concerns over fines imposed on several outlets in recent days.
Under the decision, all types of fuel stations, including those supplying petrol, diesel, CNG and LPG, have been closed indefinitely across the Sylhet division.
Station owners alleged that penalties were imposed over documentation issues and suspected irregularities in fuel handling, including allegations of unauthorised transfers and off-channel sales. They said attempts to resolve the matter through discussions with local authorities on Wednesday failed to produce any outcome.
One affected operator said fines had been imposed for record-keeping issues and suspected fuel movement between stations, reflecting what owners described as heightened scrutiny.
Association leaders said they would not oppose government intervention if authorities wished to operate the stations, but maintained that the current regulatory environment made normal business operations unsustainable.
The shutdown comes at a sensitive time for Bangladesh’s energy sector, where maintaining uninterrupted fuel supply is critical amid ongoing market pressures and heightened enforcement against hoarding and irregularities.
Energy analysts warn that prolonged disruption in Sylhet could affect local fuel availability and increase pressure on surrounding supply networks, particularly if alternative distribution channels are not activated quickly.
Authorities have not yet announced any immediate resolution, while discussions between stakeholders are expected to continue as efforts are made to restore normal fuel distribution.
