Motorcycles: 2 litres/day. Cars: 10 litres. Trucks: 220 litres.
95% of Bangladesh’s fuel is imported. Fertiliser plants are shutting down.
DHAKA, March 6 (Reuters) – Bangladesh on Friday imposed daily limits on fuel sales after panic buying and stockpiling raised concerns about supply as the war in the Middle East roiled global energy markets.
The measures follow U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran – and retaliatory strikes by Tehran across the Middle East – which have disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy route, and sent energy prices soaring.
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), the state-run importer and distributor, said the curbs aim to restrain excessive demand, calm the public and keep nationwide stocks stable.
“Fuel oil is essential for the country’s development, but about 95% of it must be imported,” it said, adding that global instability had occasionally delayed shipments.
Rumours about shortages had prompted consumers and dealers to hoard fuel, it added.
Under the limits, motorcycles can buy up to 2 litres of octane or petrol a day; private cars 10 litres; SUVs, jeeps and microbuses 20–25 litres; pickups and local buses 70–80 litres; and long-distance buses, trucks and container carriers 200–220 litres of diesel.