Petrol pump owners in Bangladesh have warned that filling stations across the country may shut down at any time due to an acute fuel shortage, raising concerns among commuters during the ongoing Eid holiday period.

The Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners’ Association, in a statement issued on Sunday, described the situation as “extremely dire”, saying the daily fuel supply from oil companies is far below demand. As a result, long queues have formed at the few operational stations, while many pumps in Dhaka and other areas have remained closed.

Despite the lifting of earlier rationing measures ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the situation has failed to improve, with queues stretching for kilometres in some parts of the capital. In several instances, police and army personnel were deployed to maintain order at overcrowded stations.

Industry leaders said the crisis has been exacerbated by the closure of many pumps and supply disruptions linked to the extended holiday and banking shutdown, which has limited the ability of operators to procure fuel.

The fuel crunch comes amid broader concerns over global supply disruptions tied to tensions in West Asia, which have triggered panic buying in recent weeks.