Rumors of Fuel Shortages Trigger Panic Buying at Nilphamari Petrol Stations
A widespread rumor concerning fuel shortages has triggered a buying frenzy in Nilphamari, leaving several local filling stations depleted of petrol and octane. While diesel supplies remain stable across the district, the sudden surge in demand began on Thursday, leaving many motorists stranded by the weekend.
At the Rashida Filling Station near the town’s Gachbari area, staff turned away queues of frustrated motorcycle riders on Saturday, noting that their reserves were exhausted. Among those impacted was Mominul Islam, who found himself stranded with his family while attempting to travel to a nearby union. Despite his pleas for a small quantity of fuel to return home, staff were unable to provide any. According to station representative Mehedi Hasan, the facility sold 2,200 liters of petrol between Saturday morning and early afternoon, and they do not expect a fresh shipment until Sunday.
The scarcity is inconsistent across the region, with some stations shuttered entirely. Managers at the Mukta and Dewan filling stations in the Badiar Mor area reported that their stocks of petrol and octane ran dry by Friday afternoon, forcing them to suspend operations until further supplies arrive. Motorists reported cycling between multiple stations only to find them closed or empty, highlighting the depth of the disruption caused by the public panic.
Some station owners, however, attribute the crisis to consumer behavior rather than a lack of inventory. At the Bhai Bhai Filling Station, owner Amin Ali reported that customers who typically purchase modest amounts of fuel have been buying five to ten times their usual limit. To manage the supply and prevent hoarding, the station has capped individual sales at 500 taka per motorcycle.
Mohammad Aktar Hossain, president of the District Petrol Pump Owners Association, clarified that the shortage is rooted in panic-driven demand rather than an actual supply chain failure. Speaking to local media, Hossain explained that the closure of banks on Friday hindered the processing of necessary payments for new fuel shipments. He assured the public that owners who managed to complete their payments by Thursday received deliveries on Saturday, and he expects operations to return to normal across all stations by Sunday.
