Fuel queues ease as supply rises after price hike

Vehicle queues at filling stations across the capital began to ease on Tuesday following an increase in fuel supply and a drop in demand after a steep price hike of Tk 15-Tk 20 per litre.
Visits to several petrol pumps in areas including Jatrabari, Motijheel, Malibagh, Moghbazar and Tejgaon showed shorter lines and reduced pressure compared to previous days, with waiting times falling significantly.
Drivers told The Financial Express that waiting times have dropped from nearly 10 hours to between two and three hours, although supply constraints continue to cause some strain.
"Previously, one had to wait nearly 10 hours to get fuel; now it is available within two to three hours. The crowd has decreased slightly after the price hike," said Md Jalal Mia, a private car driver at a filling station in Malibagh.
Md Sajal, a motorcyclist waiting at a pump in Tikatuli, said the situation had improved. "It is taking much less time now compared to before. I have been in the queue for about one hour, and there are around 20 bikes ahead," he said.
Similar conditions were observed at filling stations in Paribagh, Asad Gate, Kallyanpur, Technical and
Gabtoli, where queues were noticeably shorter than
in recent days.
Pump operators said diesel supply is currently stable, although octane remains in short supply.
They added that sales resumed around noon on Tuesday after fresh consignments arrived in the morning.
The government recently increased daily fuel supply -- including diesel, petrol and octane -- by 10 to 20 per cent in a bid to ease the crisis.
At the same time, fuel prices were raised by Tk 15 to Tk 20 per litre on Saturday, with diesel now selling at around Tk 115 per litre.
Officials said the move was aimed at curbing panic buying and addressing volatility in the global fuel market amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.
The government has attributed the recent shortages largely to panic buying rather than a severe stock deficit, expressing hope that the market will stabilise in the coming days.
Despite the improvement in supply, the price hike has pushed up ride-sharing fares and transportation costs for goods, affecting logistics in major cities.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com