BPC: 14-Day Fuel Reserve Secured; No Immediate Risk of Price Hikes
During a press conference at the BPC headquarters in Karwan Bazar on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the newly appointed Chairman, Md. Rezanur Rahman, assured the public that there is no immediate cause for concern regarding supply shortages or price increases. He stated that the corporation is closely monitoring the escalating Middle East conflict and is actively exploring alternative markets to ensure energy security.
The Chairman provided a specific breakdown of the current reserves, noting that the stocks are sufficient to meet the nation's demand for several weeks. Specifically, the country has 14 days of diesel, 28 days of octane, 15 days of petrol, 55 days of jet fuel, and 93 days of furnace oil in reserve. To maintain a steady supply, the BPC has already completed the Letter of Credit (LC) process for seven additional vessels, ensuring that new shipments will arrive as planned.
Strategic Resilience and Market Diversification: A key takeaway from the briefing was Bangladesh's relative insulation from potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The BPC Chairman explained that approximately 80% of the country’s refined fuel is sourced from China, Singapore, and Malaysia—routes that do not rely on the narrow chokepoint currently affected by regional tensions. While the BPC acknowledges that a prolonged war could eventually impact global oil prices, the current domestic retail prices for March have been kept unchanged, with diesel at Tk 100 per litre and octane at Tk 120 per litre.
Despite the stable outlook for refined products, the government is remaining vigilant regarding liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, as a larger portion of those shipments originates from Qatar and must pass through the Strait of Hormuz. To mitigate potential gas shortages, the Energy Division has already instructed coal-fired power plants to ramp up production. For now, the BPC maintains that the combination of diversified sourcing and strategic reserves provides a significant cushion against immediate energy instability.
