BPC imposes daily purchase limits: How much fuel can you buy now?

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has decided to limit the amount of fuel sold to vehicles each day in an effort to curb panic buying.

According to the decision, motorcycles will be allowed to purchase a maximum of two litres of fuel per day, while private cars can buy up to 10 litres.

According to BPC, SUVs and microbuses will be allowed 20-25 litres of petrol or octane per visit at filling stations. Pickup trucks and local buses may receive 70-80 litres of diesel, while long-distance buses, trucks, covered vans and container trucks will be supplied 200-220 litres of diesel.

In a notice issued today, the state-run fuel regulator said that amid the ongoing global crisis, negative reports about the country’s fuel stock situation circulating in various media outlets and on social media have triggered a surge in demand among consumers.

“To meet this additional demand, dealers are trying to collect more fuel from depots than usual,” the notice said.

“Reports have also emerged that some consumers are attempting to purchase more fuel than necessary from dealers or filling stations and store it without authorisation. These matters have come to the attention of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, BPC and other relevant authorities,” it said.

The notice said that to address public concerns, the government would like to assure people that fuel imports are continuing as scheduled and shipments are arriving regularly.

Read more

Govt urges fuel saving as LNG import cost doubles

At the same time, fuel is being transported from the main installations to depots across the country through rail wagons and tankers, it added.

“Hopefully, within a short time, an adequate buffer stock of fuel will be built up in the country,” the notice said.

BPC also instructed that consumers must submit the original copy of the previous purchase receipt or bill when buying fuel again. At the same time, customers must collect a receipt from the filling station clearly mentioning the quantity, price and purpose of the fuel purchased.

The notice further said that fuel must be bought and sold at the government-fixed price, and charging extra during a crisis would be a punishable offence.

It added that the government usually sets fuel prices at the beginning of each month, and no decision has been taken so far to increase fuel prices in the current situation.

BPC urged all consumers and dealers to follow the instructions and cooperate in maintaining a normal fuel supply across the country.