Dhaka: The government has announced that fuel prices in Bangladesh will remain unchanged in April, despite an increase in the international market. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division communicated this decision to the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) through an official letter on Tuesday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the decision means diesel will continue to be sold at Tk 100 per litre, octane at Tk 120, petrol at Tk 116, and kerosene at Tk 112 at the consumer level throughout April. This comes after the prices were last adjusted on February 1, when the government reduced fuel prices by Tk 2 per litre. These rates were maintained in March and will continue unchanged for April.
Officials have stated that the decision aligns with the revised automatic fuel pricing mechanism, which adjusts domestic prices based on global market fluctuations. However, recent months have seen a rise in global fuel prices due to tensions in the Middle East. Attacks on Iran by the US and Israel have disrupted oil transport through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route.
This global situation has had repercussions for Bangladesh, where reports of fuel shortages and long queues at petrol pumps have surfaced. Many consumers have experienced prolonged waits to obtain fuel, and some filling stations have reported running out of stock temporarily.
The government attributes these issues not to a supply shortage but to panic buying and illegal hoarding by traders seeking higher profits. In response, authorities have seized 87,700 litres of illegally hoarded fuel across 64 districts within a 24-hour period, aiming to stabilize the situation and reassure consumers.