The Bangladesh government is moving to allow private companies to import, store, distribute and sell refi ned petroleum products, potentially ending the staterun Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation’s (BPC) near-monopoly in the fuel market.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division has directed BPC to prepare a draft ‘Private-Sector Refi ned Fuel Import, Storage, Transportation, Distribution and Marketing Policy, 2026’ as part of efforts to introduce greater competition and diversify fuel supplies.
The move follows a proposal by Bashundhara Oil and Gas Company to import up to 3.35 million tonnes of refi ned fuel annually, including diesel, petrol, octane and furnace oil.
Bangladesh’s annual fuel demand is around 7.4 million tonnes.
Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said private companies would be allowed to compete with BPC to reduce dependence on a single supplier and strengthen energy security