DHAKA, Mar 31 (V7N) — A severe fuel crisis has intensified across the capital, with long queues of vehicles snaking around filling stations since early Tuesday morning. Drivers of motorcycles, private cars, buses, and trucks began crowding pumps at dawn, causing significant traffic congestion that has paralyzed several major roads and surrounding areas.

Despite waiting for hours, many drivers reported that they were unable to obtain fuel in the quantities required for their daily operations. Pump operators have attributed the shortage to a delay in supply, though they expressed hope that tankers from the major depots in Siddhirganj and Fatullah in Narayanganj would arrive by Tuesday afternoon to replenish depleting stocks.

The crisis has been further exacerbated by widespread rumors of an imminent and substantial increase in fuel prices, linked to the ongoing global surge in oil costs which recently crossed $115 per barrel. These rumors have triggered a wave of panic hoarding, with both commercial and private consumers attempting to fill their tanks and containers to capacity, quickly exhausting the available supply at many stations.

While pump officials have urged the public not to succumb to speculation, the "equal pay for all" sports allowance announcement yesterday and the broader economic pressure from the Middle East conflict have left consumers on edge. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has yet to issue a formal statement regarding any scheduled price adjustments, but the situation on the ground remains tense as transport owners warn of a potential strike if the supply bottleneck is not resolved immediately.

END/SMA/AJ