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Petrol pumps across Bangladesh may shut down at any time due to fuel shortages and security risks, the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association has warned.
In a press release issued on Sunday night (March 22), the association said the overall condition of petrol pumps nationwide has become “critical.” It noted that the daily fuel supply provided by companies is insufficient to meet customer demand, leading to long queues at pumps, particularly of motorcycle riders.
The association also said that pump workers are under significant physical and mental stress, as they are not accustomed to working long hours continuously under such pressure. Due to the inadequate fuel supply, operations at petrol pumps across the country could come to a halt at any moment, it added.
According to the statement, just before Eid, one pump in a district town had around 10,500 litres of petrol and the same amount of octane in stock, while another pump had nearly 8,000 litres of fuel. Under normal circumstances, this stock would last for several days, but due to sudden excessive demand and disorder, it was depleted within a short period.
The association also alleged that groups have been arriving at pumps late at night, creating mobs and forcing operators to open pumps to take fuel. Referring to an incident in Thakurgaon, it said that a group armed with sticks looted fuel supplies during distribution.
The association warned that such incidents may spread to other areas, adding that petrol pump owners are currently operating without minimum security measures.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/national/1f126957-9b40-66e0-87d3-b380ff03c793