Fuel queues persist despite higher supply, price hikes

Long queues of cars, motorcycles, buses and trucks were seen at petrol pumps across the capital on Saturday despite the government's move to increase fuel supply and expand the QR code-based Fuel Pass system.
Although the recent fuel price hike and the introduction of fuel pass have helped reduce some of the long lines in recent days, motorists at several filling stations still had to wait for hours to refuel.
Visits to filling stations in Motijheel, Malibagh, Mohakhali, Tejgaon and Mirpur showed vehicles lined up for long distances, with many drivers expressing frustration over delays and irregular supply.
The country has been facing turbulence in fuel distribution following disruptions in global oil supply linked to the ongoing
war in the Middle East. Since the conflict began, imports of fuel oil have been affected, creating supply shortages and causing difficulties for motorists.
To address the situation, the government introduced a fuel pass system to prevent excessive purchases and ensure fair distribution of fuel.
This newspaper found that while queues were shorter compared with the previous week, the usual picture of long lines had returned at many stations on Saturday.
Md Giasuddin, a motorcyclist waiting at a filling station in Motijheel, said he had been able to refuel without much delay last week after supply improved and the fuel pass system was introduced.
"Today [Saturday] I had to wait nearly one and half hours to refuel my bike," he said.
Md Shohag Mia, a private car driver at a filling station in Malibagh, said he waited nearly two and a half hours before getting petrol.
"I refuelled my car after waiting for more than two hours. The supply situation is still not normal," he told The Financial Express.
Following the sharp increase in fuel prices on April 19, diesel now sells at Tk 115 per litre, octane at Tk 140 and petrol at Tk 135. Despite the higher prices, demand for fuel remains high.
To manage the crowds, the government has introduced the QR code-based "Fuel Pass BD" app for motorcyclists, which has helped reduce queues at some filling stations.
However, some petrol pumps have faced temporary closures or irregular supply due to shortages in depot deliveries.
Earlier, on April 18, the government expanded the pilot rollout of the 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, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources said motorcycle owners in districts beyond Dhaka would now be brought under the digital registration system.
Motorcycles registered in Dhaka, Dhaka Metro, Chandpur, Chattogram, Chattogram Metro, Barishal, Barishal Metro, Khulna, Khulna Metro, Rajshahi, Rajshahi Metro and Mymensingh districts have been included in the system.
At the same time, the pilot programme has been extended to 11 more petrol pumps in the capital, including stations in Motijheel, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Mirpur, Gabtali and Uttara.
Earlier, the fuel pass app had been launched on a trial basis at Trust Filling Station in Tejgaon and Sonar Bangla Filling Station at Asad Gate before being expanded to several other stations.
Developed by the state-run Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, the system allows motorcycle riders to purchase fuel using quick response (QR) codes.
The system will also be integrated with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority database to enable vehicle-based verification and help curb irregularities in fuel sales.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com