ASIFUR RAHMAN and MOHAMMAD SUMAN

The country’s fuel supply chain is under strain as sharp post-Eid surge in demand collides with import uncertainty tied to the US-Israel war on Iran.

While officials insist there is no full-blown crisis and overall stocks remain adequate, the system is showing signs of stress. Reports of shortages, rationing, and long queues at filling stations have emerged across multiple districts.

At the centre of concern lies the import of fuel amid external supply risks, limited stock buffers, and sudden demand spikes.

According to the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), April’s import plan includes 14 shipments via the sea and fuel via pipeline totaling 428,000 tonnes -- roughly 303,000 tonnes of diesel, 50,000 tonnes of jet fuel, 25,000 tonnes of octane, and 50,000 tonnes of furnace oil.

So far, however, only three diesel shipments of about 90,000 tonnes in total have been confirmed, alongside an additional 20,000 tonnes expected via pipeline.

This has raised fears of a shortfall.

The uncertainty follows disruptions in March. Of 17 planned fuel shipments, 11 have been confirmed, with eight already at Chattogram port. These shipments brought in around 2,14,641 tonnes of diesel and 25,022 tonnes of furnace oil, along with another 10,000 tonnes of diesel via pipeline.

Several of the remaining shipments became uncertain after major suppliers, including Singapore-based Unipec and Malaysia’s Petco But

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