Published : 24 Mar 2026, 02:50 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 03:30 PM
Chattogram is facing a fresh petrol crisis, with many pumps closed and those open rationing fuel amid long queues of motorcyclists.
The shortage hit motorcyclists particularly hard amid the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday rush.
Moinul Islam, leaving a pump in Panchlaish, said: “I’ve been searching since last evening. One pump gave me only Tk 100 worth of octane last night. Since this morning, I haven't found it anywhere.”
Most city petrol pumps ran out of octane on Monday, while a few that had fuel imposed rationing.
At QC Petrol Pump near Gani Bakery intersection, hundreds of motorcycles queued up for fuel.
Mohammad Sahed told bdnews24.com, “I’ve visited several pumps but couldn’t get petrol. Here, I’ve been waiting for nearly 20 minutes.”
Jubel Ahmed, a motorcycle-for-hire rider, said: “It’s Eid. This is our busy season, but I can’t work without fuel. I’ve been waiting for over half an hour, and there are still 15–20 bikes ahead.”
QC Petrol Pump staffer Md Mohiuddin said the pump reopened Monday after being closed on Eid day and the following day.
“Fuel is being sold according to demand. There’s enough diesel and octane for now,” he said.
However, Alhaj Foyej Ahmed & Sons Filling & LPG Station at Prabartak intersection displayed a sign reading “No octane”, leaving customers frustrated.
Iman Dey, travelling from Sajek to Cox’s Bazar via Chattogram, said: “I couldn’t get petrol anywhere en route. At one pump in Soloshahar, I got only Tk 200 worth.”
Gias Uddin, manager of the same pump, said: “We sold all 4,500 litres of octane received from the depot by 4:30pm.
“We don’t know if we’ll get fuel tomorrow. Supply is rationed centrally; each dealer receives a fixed quota. [On Monday], only a fraction of our depot request was delivered.”
Haji Yunus & Co Petrol Pump in Panchlaish and Khan Brothers Pump in Katalganj were also closed.
Workers said morning sales exhausted the remaining fuel.
Other pumps, including Fossil Pump in Sholoshahar, SK Kahm in Lal Khan Bazar, and Four Star at the CRB intersection, had no fuel.
At Sena Kalyan Pump on Bayezid Road, motorcycles could buy no more than Tk 200 worth of octane each.
Rising global fuel concerns due to the Middle East conflict and panic buying earlier in March had prompted the government to ration petrol, octane, and diesel from Mar 6.
The rationing was lifted on Mar 14 ahead of Eid, but shortages returned from Monday.
