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Published : 19 Apr 2026, 10:47 PM
The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will increase fuel supply from Monday, raising allocations of octane by 20 percent and diesel and petrol by 10 percent in an effort to ease pressure on the domestic market.
The decision aims to maintain steady supply at dealer and consumer levels amid shifting demand patterns, according to a directive issued by the corporation on Sunday.
“Considering current fuel demand, this decision has been taken to ensure uninterrupted supply at dealer and consumer levels,” the BPC said, instructing all subsidiaries to implement the revised distribution from Monday.
Under the new allocation plan issued by the distribution and monitoring wing, daily supply has been set at 13,048 tonnes of diesel, 1,422 tonnes of octane and 1,547 tonnes of petrol, with company-wise shares also defined.
The move comes at a time when the government has simultaneously raised retail fuel prices while attempting to prevent supply disruptions in the market.
Late Saturday, the government set new retail prices: diesel at Tk 115 per litre, octane at Tk 140, petrol at Tk 135 and kerosene at Tk 130, effective from Sunday.
Prices rose by Tk 15 for diesel, Tk 20 for octane, Tk 19 for petrol and Tk 18 for kerosene.
In recent weeks, long queues at filling stations, unusually high demand and supply anxiety have been reported in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
Earlier in March, the BPC had imposed daily sales caps on vehicles, including 2 litres of petrol or octane for motorcycles, 10 litres for private cars, 20–25 litres for SUVs and microbuses, and 70–220 litres for diesel vehicles.
Later, the limit for ride-sharing motorcycles was raised to 5 litres.
Another directive that month reduced fuel cutbacks in divisional cities from 25 percent to 15 percent, citing efforts to maintain normal supply amid global volatility.
However, some fuel station owners had criticised the quota system, alleging flaws in demand estimation and allocation, saying panic buying and abrupt limits worsened operational pressure.
The latest directive marks a shift from earlier restrictions toward increased market supply.
Officials said the objective is to stabilise distribution in line with current demand.
The power ministry has maintained that there is no actual fuel shortage, blaming panic buying and hoarding tendencies for recent disruptions.
A “Fuel Pass” digital monitoring system has also been introduced and expanded to more districts to tighten oversight.
Power Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku said global conflict has increased import costs, forcing price adjustments, though subsidies are still being provided, adding that the impact of the war is being felt worldwide.
