Most of the petrol pumps across the capital, Dhaka, continued to witness long queues on Tuesday as motorists were seen waiting for hours to purchase fuel amid the prevailing supply crunch.
Despite repeated government assurances that adequate oil stocks are available, panic buying showed no signs of easing.
Motorcyclists and private car drivers were seen waiting for more than two hours under the scorching sun to reach the fuel nozzles.
Rising global tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran have raised concerns about potential supply interruptions, prompting many to fill their tanks as a precautionary measure.
Major roads in Ramna, Tejgaon, Motijheel, Bijoy Sarani and Paribagh remained almost clogged with vehicles throughout the day due to the unusually long queues at filling stations.
A visit to the Ramna Filling Station at Matsya Bhaban intersection at around 12:30pm revealed that several hundred motorcycles and private cars queued up for the desired fuel.
The line of private cars stretched from Matsya Bhaban intersection through Segunbagicha and the Press Club area, looping back near Matsya Bhaban.
A similar scene unfolded in Paribagh, where long queues of cars and motorcycles were seen in front of Meghna Servicing Centre and Filling Station.
Private car driver Lokman Fakir said he had joined the queue around 5:45am but he could not manage to get fuel even after waiting for more than an hour.
"I've been standing in line since early morning. Even after all this time, I still haven't got fuel," he said. At 11:30am, large crowds gathered in front of Messrs H.K. Filling Station in Arambagh, while around 12:15pm, Karim & Sons pump in Motijheel witnessed an even longer line of vehicles.
The queue of motorcycles extended beyond the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) building and the line of private cars stretched past the Dainik Bangla intersection.
At Binimoy Filling Station at the city's Dainik Bangla Mor area, a sign reading "No Octane" was seen hanging at the entrance, further intensifying frustration among motorists.
Several private car drivers said they had no option but to endure the long waits, as fuel is essential for discharging their daily work.
Many of them expressed frustrations over the uncertainty and noted that they could not afford to stop using their vehicles.
Echoing similar concerns, Motorcyclists said their bikes are crucial for office travel and business activities. Despite hours of waiting in extreme heat, they said skipping fuel was simply not an option.
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