Artificial Fuel Shortage Hits Narail Amid Global Oil Uncertainty

Narail is facing an artificial fuel shortage as panic buying spreads among motorists and autorickshaw drivers.

The crisis comes after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing war, raising uncertainty in global oil supplies. Unscrupulous traders in Narail are exploiting the situation to create an artificial shortage and profit from rising demand. There is no active monitoring by the authorities.

Motorcyclists, private car owners, and CNG-powered autorickshaws are filling their tanks to full capacity, fearing a fuel crisis. This sudden surge in demand has led to traffic jams at filling stations even during the night.

On Friday (March 6), long queues were seen at petrol pumps across Narail and Lohagara. Many stations ran out of fuel by evening, forcing some to close, while others claimed “no fuel” but did not supply to customers.

Sharifuzzaman, a correspondent from Lohagara, said he was able to get only 3 liters of fuel despite keeping his tank full. Microbus driver Shimul added that he reserves extra fuel to avoid being stranded during a crisis.

Media worker Rashed Rasu pointed out that despite Bangladesh having adequate fuel reserves, some traders are exploiting public fear for profit. He urged government authorities to monitor the market closely.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) data for March shows the country has 14 days of diesel, 15–17 days of petrol, 28 days of octane, 93 days of furnace oil, and 55 days of jet fuel. The government confirmed that there is no immediate shortage but advised people to use electricity and fuel efficiently.