DHAKA, July 30, 2026 — The government has kept the retail prices of petroleum fuels unchanged for August, maintaining the existing rates despite recent fluctuations in the international oil market.
Under the revised pricing order, diesel will continue to be sold at Tk 115 per liter, kerosene at Tk 135, petrol at Tk 140, and octane at Tk 145 per liter. The same prices were maintained throughout July.
The last adjustment to fuel prices was made on May 31, when the government kept diesel prices unchanged but increased the prices of kerosene, petrol and octane by Tk 5 per liter. Before that, on April 19, petroleum fuel prices were significantly raised, with diesel increasing from Tk 100 to Tk 115 per liter, petrol from Tk 116 to Tk 135, and octane from Tk 120 to Tk 140.
Global oil markets have experienced significant volatility in recent months, driven largely by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly the Iran conflict. Brent crude oil, which traded at around US$72 per barrel before the conflict escalated, surged to as high as US$115 per barrel. The highest Brent crude price in recent years was recorded on March 8, 2022, when it reached US$137.64 per barrel, while the lowest level was US$50.33 per barrel on January 4, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bangladesh introduced its Automatic Fuel Pricing Mechanism on February 29, 2024, under which domestic fuel prices are reviewed every month in line with movements in international oil prices. According to the pricing formula, the commissions of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and other stakeholders remain unchanged, while retail prices are adjusted based on changes in import costs.
However, despite a decline in global crude oil prices in recent weeks, domestic fuel prices have not been reduced proportionately.
Officials at BPC said the corporation had incurred substantial financial losses over the past several months and was attempting to recover part of those losses. They indicated that if international oil prices continue to decline, further adjustments to domestic fuel prices may be considered in the coming months.
