B Mirror Report: Several fuel pumps in the capital suspended operations on Saturday after running out of petrol and octane due to a surge in panic buying.

A visit by media found the entrances of several filling stations blocked with ropes and notices reading “No petrol or octane.” Many motorists were seen waiting at the gates in the hope that fuel would arrive, but most left disappointed.

“I took fuel on Friday, but my bike has already run out. There is no way to travel without fuel, so I am just standing here,” said Md Hanif, a motorcyclist at a petrol pump in Arambagh.

He later added that he finally managed to refuel after waiting for one and a half hours.

Md Ariful, a commuter at Rajdhani Filling Station at chittagong road, said, “I have visited four different pumps since morning, and all of them are empty. Looking for fuel is actually wasting more of the little fuel left in our tanks.”

At Rajdhani Filling Station, bamboo poles were placed at the entrance to prevent vehicles from entering.

A staff member said that although people continued to come for fuel, most had to leave without getting any. Fuel supplies might arrive later in the afternoon, after which sales could resume.

“We have no fuel shortage here. There is sufficient fuel, and motorcycles and other vehicles are being served regularly,” a staff member said.

Earlier, government officials said that fuel reserves remain adequate, but the sudden doubling of demand has disrupted local distribution. The situation has been further aggravated by consumers stockpiling fuel following the Iran crisis.