Fuel shortage fears trigger panic buying

Fears of fuel shortages and price hikes have resulted in long queues of cars and motorcycles at petrol pumps in the capital on Thursday, as panic buying continued following the escalating military conflicts in the Middle East.

The situation led to significant, sometimes kilometre-long queues at filling stations in areas like Mirpur, Dhanmondi, Shahbagh, Motijheel, Jatrabari and other areas of the city.

The surge in demand has forced many filling stations to operate under strict rationing, resulting in hours-long waits for motorists despite government officials maintaining that there is no real shortage.

The rush stems from fears of a supply crunch driven by the ongoing Middle East conflict, prompting residents to fill their tanks and leading to panic buying.

Meanwhile, the government has denied an actual fuel shortage and directed that fuel supply will be continued to stabilise the market.

To manage the crowds, authorities have implemented limits, such as restricting fuel sales to two litres for motorcycles and 10 litres for private cars.

Visiting several petrol pumps in the city, the FE found long queues of motorcycles and private cars waiting for octane and petrol.

The long lines have caused severe traffic congestion, and some filling stations have had to suspend sales after running out of stock.

The rush that began on March 5, 2026, following an escalating military conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran in the Middle East, forced consumers to scramble to petrol pumps for refuelling, fearing a potential supply disruption.

Md Sarwar, a motorcyclist at Motijheel petrol pump, told the FE that he has managed to refuel his bike on his third attempt.

Many drivers said they had already spent hours in the queue.

"I have a part-time job and also do ride-sharing, but the hassle of getting fuel has reduced my income. If it takes three to four hours just to get two litres of fuel, when will I work?" Md Khalil said in front of a pump station at Tikatoli in the city.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered global supply fears, particularly a country like Bangladesh. Bangladesh meets 95 per cent of its fuel demand through imports.

The government has strictly urged filling stations to stop selling fuel in drums or containers and must now issue detailed receipts to ensure transparency.

It also urged the citizens to limit private travel, use car -pooling and practice maximum efficiency in domestic gas consumption to face the crisis.

The fear of a supply crunch is rooted in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict and potential disruptions to global oil supplies.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com