Pressure at the pumps - Bangladesh suffers fuel shortages as Iran war drives queues for petrol

"Bangladesh has been plunged into fuel crisis following the end of the Eid-al-Fitr holidays, driven by supply disruptions linked to the war in Iran. Thousands of motorists in Dhaka are waiting for hours at petrol stations across the city. Footage shows vehicles waiting for extended periods to obtain fuel, as many pumps remain closed and available supplies are rationed. Locals say the shortages are cutting directly into working hours and daily routines. "I am wasting my office time to get fuel. I cannot even take my official lunch break right now because I have to stand in line for fuel. My time and effort are being wasted, even my office time is being wasted," said Ahsan Habib, a local resident. Despite government assurances that sufficient fuel stocks are available, motorists say they are unable to obtain fuel even after prolonged waits. Some pointed to deeper structural problems in the distribution system. "If this continues, I don't understand what will happen to the country. There is a big fuel syndicate in Bangladesh. The government is not able to catch that syndicate. Out of 100 petrol pumps in Dhaka city, 10 pumps are supplying fuel," complained Sheikh Monirul Islam, another resident. Amid uncertainty, others highlighted rationing practices and speculation around possible price increases. "Today, the suffering for fuel is increasing. Maybe after April 1, the suffering may decrease. They (pump owners) are saying that if the price of fuel is increased on April 1, they will provide sufficient fuel," said Nurul Islam. There are also growing concerns about the broader economic impact if shortages persist. "If the fuel crisis continues like this, people's normal working life will be disrupted," says Bahauddin Khan Farabi, Local. The Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association warned that some stations could be forced to close, urging authorities to bolster security amid reports of fuel seizures and unrest at pumps. At the time of publishing, the cost of Brent oil stood at $101.42 per barrel. The global oil benchmark remained in triple digits with key energy infrastructure across the Gulf under attack and the Strait of Hormuz heavily disrupted by the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The US and Israel have been engaged in a military conflict with Iran since February 28, which began with the killing of the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Over 1,400 Iranians have been killed since then, while at least 18 Israeli deaths have been confirmed."

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