No fuel shortage in country: Energy Minister

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku has said that there is no fuel shortage in the country. However, he added that artificial shortages are being created at filling stations due to illegal stockpiling and black market activities by a section of dishonest traders.

He made the remarks in Parliament while responding to a question from Netrokona-5 lawmaker Mashum Mustafa on Sunday (April 19).

The lawmaker alleged that although the government claims there is no shortage, the reality on the ground is different. He said fuel stations are limiting purchases to around Tk 200 worth of fuel per customer and using markings on motorcycles to prevent repeated refueling.

In response, the minister said there is indeed no actual shortage of fuel in the country. He noted that the same volume of fuel was supplied in March this year as in March last year.

He explained that the perceived crisis is being driven by illegal hoarding, black marketing, and panic buying among consumers.

The minister also clarified that there is no government directive limiting fuel quantities at pumps or marking motorcycles.

To address the situation, the government has taken strict measures. According to him, district and upazila administrations, along with representatives from the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, have been deployed as monitoring officers. Mobile courts are operating nationwide against illegal stockpiling.

So far, 9,116 drives have been conducted, leading to 3,510 cases, fines amounting to over Tk 15.6 million, and the seizure of around 542,000 litres of fuel.

Police and other law enforcement agencies continue to act against hoarding and black market activities, while local administrations are conducting public awareness campaigns.

The minister also said the government has launched a pilot project introducing “fuel cards” at selected filling stations in Dhaka. These cards will store customer fuel purchase data to ensure transparency. If successful, the system will be expanded nationwide.