Reduced depot supply triggers fuel shortage at Sylhet filling stations

Concerns over fuel availability continue in Sylhet as filling stations in the city struggle to meet demand due to reduced supply from depots, prompting some pumps to suspend sales altogether.

Petrol pump owners said they are receiving less fuel than required from depots, leading to the shortage.

They expressed hope that the situation would ease once supply returns to normal.

During a visit to several filling stations in the city on Sunday afternoon, it was found that some pumps were selling fuel in limited quantities while others had stopped sales citing lack of stock.

At Jalalabad Pump near Bandar Bazar, fuel sales remained suspended when the correspondent visited the station.

Milon, 28, a merchant agent of bKash who came to the filling station with his motorcycle to buy fuel, said he had been unable to get petrol since Saturday night.

“I haven’t been able to get fuel since last night. How will I manage my duty and travel?” he said.

At North East Petrol Pump in Pathantula, fuel was being sold in limited quantities in the evening, with motorcyclists receiving no more than Tk 200 worth of fuel.

A similar situation was observed at Jalalabad Petrol Pump in Ambarkhana where motorbikes were given fuel worth Tk 200 to Tk 300 at most.

Pump employees also said octane was unavailable when some customers requested it.

However, the pump’s manager or owner could not be reached for comment.

Filling station owners said the situation has continued since Friday after demand for fuel surged on Thursday, creating a shortfall.

Leaders of Filling Station Owners’ Association held a meeting with Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sarwar Alam on Sunday afternoon to discuss the matter.

After the meeting, the leaders said some stations in Sylhet are facing supply shortages due to new directives issued by the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).

They also submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner demanding measures to ensure adequate supply.

Riasad Azim, organising secretary of the Sylhet Petrol Pump Owners’ Association, said, “The problem is with the supply system. We are not getting fuel from the depot as per demand.”

He hoped that the issue would be resolved soon following discussions with the district administration.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sarwar Alam said there is no actual fuel shortage in the country and sufficient stock remains available.

“However, the administration will work according to government instructions considering the possibility of a shortage. We are in contact with the ministry and hope the situation in Sylhet will improve within a couple of days,” he said.

Sylhet city BNP general secretary Emdad Hossain, who was present at the meeting, said panic buying by consumers after hearing about a possible shortage has contributed to the situation.

“People are buying 10 litres instead of the usual two litres after hearing about a possible crisis, which is creating an artificial shortage,” he said, urging the public not to stockpile fuel unnecessarily.

Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation on Friday imposed restrictions on fuel purchase.

Under the directive, a motorcycle can receive a maximum of two litres of petrol or octane per day, while private cars are allowed up to 10 litres daily. SUVs, jeeps and microbuses can take 20–25 litres a day.

Pickups and local buses are allowed to buy 70–80 litres of diesel daily, while long-distance buses, trucks and covered vans can receive 200–220 litres per day.