B Mirror Report: An artificial shortage of diesel has emerged at gas stations in the nation’s capital, despite government guarantees that there is a sufficient supply of fuel oil. Drivers of public transportation are having trouble since they are getting significantly less fuel than what the government’s rationing scheme specifies. Transport owners worry that fewer local and long-distance bus journeys may be made if diesel is not supplied in accordance with demand, which could have a direct impact on regular passengers.

Under the government’s rationing policy, each local bus is supposed to receive 70–80 litres of diesel per day, while long-distance buses are allocated 200–220 litres. However, the reality is quite different. On-the-spot investigations show that since 6–7 March, most local buses have been able to collect only 20–25 litres, while long-distance buses are receiving no more than 40–50 litres. The same situation continued at filling stations in the capital until 1:00 pm on Sunday (8 March).

The information about the crisis emerged after visiting several filling stations in Mohakhali, Khilkhet, Airport and Uttara areas of the capital and speaking with people involved in the transport sector. Local bus drivers said that in a city with heavy traffic, they need 50–70 litres of diesel daily to complete at least two trips. Even though their buses have tanks with a capacity of 120 litres, they are receiving only a small portion of the required fuel, which is disrupting normal operations.

Similarly, owners of long-distance buses expressed frustration, saying the government allocation exists only on paper. In reality, they are not even receiving one-fourth of the required fuel from the pumps. Only 40–50 litres are being supplied, which is far from sufficient.

At Banani Road, bus driver Al Amin of Gulistan–Gazipur Paribahan said he last refueled at Hajir Pukur in Gazipur, but could collect only 20 litres of diesel although he needed 50 litres. As a result, the number of trips has already decreased.

Driver Md Sharif of Soukhin Paribahan, operating on the Mymensingh route, said their bus requires 110–115 litres of fuel for three trips daily, but they managed to collect only 80 litres from two pumps yesterday. “We have no option but to reduce the number of trips,” he said.

Driver Md Hashem of Prabhati Banasree Paribahan said he needs 60 litres of diesel but receives only 20 litres, forcing him to visit pumps repeatedly to complete 3–4 daily trips. Airport Paribahan driver Shamsul also said most pumps are giving no more than 20 litres, while some pumps have no fuel at all, wasting time and affecting operations.

A long-distance transport owner said their buses have a 260-litre capacity, and a round trip to Dhaka covering about 290 kilometres requires 90–95 litres of fuel. However, yesterday each bus managed to get only 10 litres, raising doubts about operating buses the next day if adequate fuel is not available.

While searching for reasons behind the shortage, visits to several filling stations revealed that many stations had run out of fuel. Before the rationing system was introduced, excessive sales had depleted stocks. Employees also said fuel tankers did not arrive during the Friday and Saturday government holidays, causing the shortage.

At the DL Filling Station on Airport Road, both octane and diesel were unavailable. An employee said the station had run out of all types of fuel but expected a tanker to arrive by afternoon. A similar “No Fuel” sign was seen at Israel Talukdar Filling Station in Khilkhet, where staff said supplies would resume once a tanker arrived.

Many buses operating on this route usually collect fuel from Tongi–Gazipur areas. At Progressive Filling Station, one of the few pumps selling diesel, Gazipur Paribahan driver Ismail said he needed 40 litres but was given only 10 litres, which would not last long.

However, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) said there is no shortage of diesel or other fuel oils in the country. According to the organisation, most of the 14 ordered oil cargoes have already reached Bangladesh, and another cargo is expected on 9 March. Plans are also underway to import fuel from Malaysia and Indonesia to avoid any future crisis.

BPC officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said diesel supply is ensured until April, and shipments are arriving gradually. Therefore, there is no possibility of a fuel crisis ahead of the upcoming Eid.

After a meeting with Prime Minister Tarek Rahman on Saturday, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Tuku urged people not to worry about fuel. He said two more vessels carrying fuel will arrive on 9 March. According to him, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has created a temporary disruption, which has increased public concern. The rationing system was introduced to address uncertainties, but panic buying and stockpiling by consumers have worsened the situation. He reiterated that there is actually no shortage of fuel in the country.