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Published : 07 Mar 2026, 05:09 PM
Bangladesh has sufficient fuel reserves and there is no reason for public concern despite the ongoing war in the Middle East, according to Power Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood.
Speaking to reporters at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday after a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the minister said the government had briefed the premier on the situation and was monitoring supplies closely.
He added that the government had introduced a rationing system as a precaution due to uncertainty over how long the conflict might last.
“There is no reason to worry about oil. The rationing was introduced because there is uncertainty about how long the war will continue,”
According to the minister, panic buying following the announcement of rationing has led some people to stockpile fuel unnecessarily.
“People became alarmed by the rationing and started trying to store oil. In fact, there is no shortage of fuel,” he said.
Iqbal said two more fuel-laden vessels were scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on Mar 9, which would further stabilise supplies.
“Two more vessels are arriving on the 9th [of March], so there is no problem with oil supply."
The government is continuing regular fuel distribution to petrol pumps and monitoring the situation across the country, the minister added.
“There is no need to queue throughout the night for oil. We are supplying fuel to petrol pumps and that will continue.”
He acknowledged that some pumps might run out of fuel temporarily due to local management issues.
“If oil finishes quickly at some pumps, people may have to wait until the next day. That depends on pump management, but we are monitoring the situation so that such cases are minimised,” he said.
The government is also preparing to conduct mobile court drives if necessary to prevent irregularities in fuel sales.
Iqbal said the government was taking precautionary steps because the duration of the Middle East conflict remains uncertain.
“We do not know when the war will end, so we have to keep our house in order and maintain reserves.”
He added that Bangladesh was also exploring alternative fuel supply arrangements beyond Qatar, though he declined to provide details.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit said the country currently had adequate reserves of LNG, LPG and other fuels.
“We have sufficient stocks of LNG, LPG and all types of oil, and we are working on alternative sources to ensure there is no crisis in the coming days,” he said.
Urging the public not to panic, he added: “There is nothing to be alarmed about. But considering the global situation, we will remain cautious and everyone should stay aware.”
