FE REPORT
The overwhelmingly long queues of cars, bikes, buses and trucks at petrol pumps in the capital have started easing following fuel-oil price hike and introduction of fuel pass.
Due to the war in the Middle East, the global fuel supply chain becomes volatile.
A turbulent situation is now prevailing across the country over the fuel supply shock.
In recent days, motorists had to wait long hours for refueling at the petrol pumps in the capital.
Since the war began, it has been causing a disruption in fuel oil import and thus motorists could not get fuel smoothly in recent days.
The government has introduced fuel pass so that none could purchase fuel oils beyond requirement.
Visiting different petrol pumps in the capital, the FE found on Thursday that the usual picture of long queues of cars, bikes, buses and trucks started coming down after fuel oil price hike and introduction of fuel pass.
A biker who identified himself as Md Salam told the FE that he had refueled his bike from Pubali Filling Station near Motijheel Metro Station in the capital on Thursday just after waiting less than one hour which took several hours in recent days.
"Long queues have started decreasing following fuel price hike and introduction of fuel pass and thus our work load has also eased," said a staff member at a Malibagh petrol pump.
Following the sharp increase in fuel prices on April 19, 2026 (diesel at 115 BDT, octane 140 BDT and petrol at 135 BDT), demand for fuel remains high.
To manage the crowds, the government has introduced a QR code-based "Fuel Pass" app for motorcyclists, which has helped to reduce some of the long lines at the filling stations.
But some petrol pumps have faced closure or irregular supply due to shortages in depot deliveries.
Earlier the government on April 18 expanded
the pilot rollout of the QR code-based "Fuel Pass BD" app to seven more districts, aiming to bring greater transparency and discipline to the country's fuel distribution system.
In a statement issued on Saturday (April 18), the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources said motorcycle owners in districts beyond Dhaka will now be brought under the digital registration system.
The statement said that motorcycles registered in Dhaka, Dhaka Metro, Chandpur, Chittagong, Chittagong Metro, Barisal, Barisal Metro, Khulna, Khulna Metro, Rajshahi, Rajshahi Metro and Mymensingh districts will now be included in the Fuel Pass BD system.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
