Bangladesh Goes Tough To Rein In Fuel Supply Shortage Amid West Asia Crisis

DHAKA, March 30 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Amid global disruptions linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict, the Bangladeshi government has intensified oversight of the fuel supply chain by assigning dedicated tag officers to petrol pumps and deploying paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) soldiers to major depots, reported Xinhua.

The country's Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources announced the measures on Saturday, stating they are designed to prevent hoarding, ensure disciplined distribution, and maintain supply stability.

According to a circular from the ministry, tag officers will be stationed at retail outlets to supervise distribution, enforce regulations, and report irregularities to higher authorities.

As the South Asian country currently grapples with an acute fuel shortage, authorities have also strengthened intelligence surveillance and border patrols to curb fuel smuggling.

Bangladesh, which relies almost entirely on imported fuel oil, has currently been experiencing hours-long queues at filling stations in Dhaka and other cities.

Authorities hope operations will normalise once fresh supplies arrive.  

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA