Aiming to avoid a long-term fuel crisis in the country, the sale of fuel under an official rationing system has started from today, Sunday (8 March). The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has fixed the amount of fuel that can be sold based on the type of vehicle.
Earlier, Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and State Minister Anindya Islam Amit issued necessary instructions to fuel pumps regarding the new system.
According to information released by BPC, a motorcycle will be able to collect a maximum of 2 liters of petrol or octane per day. For private cars, the limit has been set at 10 liters. In addition, SUVs or jeeps and microbuses will be allocated 20 to 25 liters of fuel per day.
A rationing system has also been introduced for diesel supply in the transport sector. Local-route buses or pickup vans will be able to receive 70 to 80 liters of diesel per day. On the other hand, long-distance buses, trucks, covered vans, and container trucks will be allocated 200 to 220 liters of diesel daily. The government said this precautionary measure was taken to deal with uncertainty caused by the war in the Middle East.
The Energy Minister also said that mobile courts will be deployed across the country starting today to monitor the new fuel distribution system. He clarified that the country has sufficient fuel reserves, and two more oil-carrying ships are expected to arrive at the port on March 9. This strict monitoring is being carried out to prevent artificial shortages or irregularities by fuel pumps.
In the past few days, long lines at fuel pumps and growing public concern over fuel availability have been observed. The government has repeatedly reassured people and is also paying special attention to ensuring that pumps do not discriminate in fuel rationing or sell more than the designated amount, which could quickly deplete supplies.
