The country has sufficient stocks of all types of fuel, including diesel, petrol, and octane, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood told newsmen on Saturday.
He urged citizens not to worry about the fuel supply.
The minister requested the public to remain calm amid concerns over fuel availability in Bangladesh, triggered by the ongoing war in the Middle East. He was briefing newsmen at the end of a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
He also stated that, to prevent any future crisis, the government is planning to source fuel from alternative suppliers beyond Qatar.
Regarding oil rationing, he explained that limited rationing has been introduced as a precautionary measure, but people have misunderstood this and started stockpiling fuel. “In reality, there is no shortage of oil,” he said, adding, “Two more oil-carrying vessels will arrive in the country on 9 March, so there will be no chance of shortage.”
“But as the war is still ongoing, we must be careful,” he added.
“We have oil stocks, we are supplying fuel to petrol pumps, and this will continue. There is no need to stay in long queues,” he said.
If a pump runs out of its daily quota, it must wait until the next day. Monitoring is in place to minimise such issues, he added. Mobile courts will be deployed at filling stations from Sunday to ensure proper management.
The minister appealed to citizens not to collect excess fuel out of fear or rumours, as this creates unnecessary pressure.
Separately, a senior official of the state-run Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) said that an oil-carrying vessel with 280,000 tonnes of diesel is arriving, and another cargo carrying 100,000 tonnes is in the pipeline.
Against a monthly demand of 380,000 tonnes, the country currently holds more than 100,000 tonnes of diesel in stock, which ensures supply until March.
Apart from diesel, Bangladesh does not import petrol or octane, as domestic production almost fully meets demand, the BPC official added.
Power plants also have sufficient stocks to run for around 50 days, while two cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have been secured from Singapore, officials said.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/govt-assures-adequate-fuel-supply-amid-war-1772903298