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Published : 31 Mar 2026, 04:45 PM
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division has dismissed reports of a fuel crisis, despite queues of vehicles stretching for kilometres outside petrol stations.
The division’s Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury reiterated in a press conference at the Secretariat on Tuesday that Bangladesh is not facing a fuel crisis.
"We assured you in March that there was no crisis. A day before April, I’m telling you that if people buy fuel regularly, then, In Sha Allah, we will not have any issues," he said.
On Monday, the joint secretary said the country holds sufficient fuel reserves to meet demands.
The country currently has a total stock of 192,919 tonnes of petrol, diesel, octane and jet fuel, according to the Energy Division.
Among that amount, there are 128,939 tonnes of diesel, 7,940 tonnes of octane, 11,431 tonnes of petrol and 44,609 tonnes of jet fuel.
On Tuesday, pump owners said they want to stop selling petrol and octane at night due to "concerns over security and unrest".
Monir told the media that the government will decide whether or not to hike the prices of fuel in the evening.
Regarding the proposal on extra weekly holidays at public and private offices and educational institutions, he said a discussion is under way among the concerned ministries.
He urged people to make thrifty use of fuel.
On the crisis at refuelling stations, he said: “The reason for the long lines at the pumps is due to the ‘psychological issues’ of the customers.”
The government, according to him, has jailed 19 people for illegal hoarding of fuel since the beginning of a nationwide crackdown.
Raids conducted by the authorities against fuel hoarding has also resulted in Tk 8.45 million in fines and 1,244 cases. Authorities also seized 207,365 litres of diesel, 28,938 and 60 litres of petrol.
"The government has issued instructions at the borders to check this [smuggling]," he said.
Bangladesh has taken a number of measures to tackle the ongoing fuel crisis driven by the Iran war.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Mar 25 held a special meeting on measures to address the situation.
Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on the same day ruled out any major fuel crisis but acknowledged "panic buying" is putting authorities under pressure.
