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Published : 29 Mar 2026, 02:04 PM
The general public and transport workers in Kurigram are facing severe difficulties due to an acute fuel crisis in the district, with supplies at 20 filling stations falling far short of demand.
Long queues have formed at pumps, with customers waiting for hours to get fuel. In response, the district administration has begun monitoring the stations and is trying to normalise the supply.
The Padma, Meghna and Jamuna oil companies—state-owned fuel distributors—are responsible for supplying petrol, diesel and octane from depots to filling stations and dealers across the country.
However, visits to several stations in the district revealed that these companies have failed to supply fuel in line with demand. As a result, while some diesel is available, petrol and octane are almost entirely out of stock.
Zaman Ahed Kajol, general secretary of the Kurigram District Pump Owners’ Association, said: “Against a daily demand of 400,000 litres across 20 pumps, only 50,000 litres are being supplied. That means not even one-eighth of the demand is being met.
“Every day, disputes are breaking out between customers and pump operators. We need cooperation from fuel supply companies as well as the local administration.”
Meanwhile, long lines of motorcycles and other vehicles can be seen at filling stations across the district since the morning. Many people are waiting for hours, but are still not able to get the fuel they need.
Most stations are limiting petrol sales to between Tk 200 and Tk 400 per customer— if they are selling anything at all.
Pintu Saha, owner of Saha Filling Station, said: “Hardly any of the 20 filling stations in the district have petrol, diesel or octane. Most pumps have run out of fuel before Eid. Under these circumstances, we have received instructions to keep stations closed.”
Motorcyclist Mizanur Rahman said, “I can’t find fuel at any pump. Everywhere I go, they say no fuel is available. Where are we supposed to go?”
“Meanwhile, petrol is being sold in bottles at various markets and roadside spots at Tk 150 to Tk 200 per litre.”
Motorcyclists Mithu and Mahfuzar Rahman said that amid the ongoing crisis, they have to visit multiple stations and wait four to five hours just to get petrol worth Tk 200 to Tk 300. Despite this, they can’t even get petrol every day.
Many others, including Ariful Islam, Rubel Ahmed, Rashedul and Akbar Ali, said their daily work is being disrupted with the long hours needed to secure fuel.
The local administration has taken an active role in ensuring proper fuel management. In particular, authorities are checking whether motorcyclists have valid documents, including driving licences and helmets, at the time of fuel purchase.
Deputy Commissioner Anupurna Debnath said that monitoring teams, led by her and Upazila Nirbahi officers (UNOs), are regularly inspecting filling stations. All sales points are under strict surveillance, and measures have been taken to ensure security at the pumps.
She added, “We have written to the chairman of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, requesting allocation in line with demand to resolve the fuel crisis.”
