No respite from long queues at petrol pumps

Motorists across the city faced another day of frustration on Wednesday as there is no let-up in long queues of vehicles waiting at petrol pumps to refuel amid a lingering supply strain triggered by Middle East conflict.
Cars, motorcycles, pick-ups and other vehicles were seen waiting in extended lines at the filling stations, with many drivers waiting for several hours amid scorching heat.
While some petrol pumps temporarily halted the sale of petrol, diesel and octane due to supply disruptions, others continued to operate on a limited scale, intensifying pressure on available stations.
To manage demand, several stations have introduced rationing, limiting the amount of fuel sold per vehicle.
Despite government assurances that fuel reserves remain adequate for the month, anxious consumers continue to flock to filling stations.
"I refuelled my car after waiting nearly two and a half hours," said Md Ashik, a private car driver, told this FE correspondent at a filling station near T&T School and College.
Pump workers also reported severe strain due to the rush. "We have to stand for long hours to serve customers and barely get any time to rest. Sometimes, we cannot even have lunch on time due to the pressure," said Md Raman, an employee at the petrol pump.
Similar situation was observed at Meghna Pump, Trust Fuel Station and Paribagh Petrol Pump, where long queues persisted throughout the day.
"I had to wait nearly three hours to refuel my motorcycle," said Md Sajid, a biker, at Paribagh.
A security guard at a petrol pump in Motijheel said staff members were working in shifts to cope with the pressure.
"We have no scope to sit. If we stop fuel supply even for five minutes, around 50 to 60 vehicles line up quickly," he said, adding that he could not take a single day off recently.
Motorists, including private car drivers, bikers and bus operators, reported waiting for hours at filling stations in Tejgaon, Bijoy Sarani and Paribagh.
Officials said the overall national stock of petrol and octane has slightly improved and additional shipments are expected soon.
Fuel prices remain unchanged for April, with diesel priced at Tk 100 per litre, octane at Tk 120, and petrol at Tk 116.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com