Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood on Thursday clarified that Bangladesh’s fuel oil reserves remain stable, despite widespread consumer panic causing long queues at refuelling stations.
Speaking in Parliament, the minister said that panicked consumers are now purchasing in just two hours the amount of fuel oil that previously lasted one-and-a-half days before the Iran war.
He stressed that the rush is driven by unfounded fears rather than actual shortages in supply.
“The government is maintaining stable reserves and sourcing fuel from multiple countries to ensure continuous supply,” he said, responding to a question from opposition lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah.
The minister also addressed questions on electricity supply, noting that there is no national power crisis. However, sudden spikes in demand during the summer, along with transmission and distribution limitations, can lead to occasional outages.
“To prevent these temporary disruptions, instructions have been issued to reduce unnecessary lighting in government offices and shopping complexes, and to keep air conditioning at 25 degrees Celsius or above,” he said.
Vigilance teams are actively monitoring commercial areas for excessive energy use. Consumers are also being advised to avoid operating high-energy appliances such as water pumps, ovens, heaters, irons, washing machines, and welding machines during peak demand periods.
The minister highlighted that the government is implementing a 180-day action plan to reduce power outages, in line with the ruling party’s election manifesto. In addition, short-, medium-, and long-term plans for power production expansion are underway to meet growing demand.
