The escalating geopolitical instability in the Middle East has begun to cast a long, dark shadow over Bangladesh’s energy security. Following the commencement of military strikes between Iran, Israel, and the United States in late February, global oil and gas production chains have been severely disrupted. This international volatility has now materialised on the streets of Dhaka, where a burgeoning fuel crisis has forced several petrol stations to suspend operations, leaving motorists stranded and sparking widespread public anxiety.
The Current State of Supply
On Tuesday morning, a survey of the capital revealed a grim picture of the energy landscape. Major thoroughfares, typically buzzing with activity, were marked by “No Stock” signs at numerous filling stations. At Mohin Motors in Moghbazar, pumps stood idle as employees informed frustrated commuters that their reservoirs had been empty since Saturday. A similar scene unfolded in Sheowrapara and Agargaon, where multiple stations remained shuttered due to a complete lack of supply from national depots.
The crisis appears to be driven by a significant reduction in the volume of fuel being released to retailers. Abdus Salam, the owner of Karim & Sons in Motijheel, highlighted the drastic scale of the rationing currently in effect.
“Previously, we received a daily allocation of 30,000 litres from the depot. Over the last 48 hours, this has been slashed to just 13,000 litres—less than half of our requirement,” Mr Salam noted.
Panic Buying and Depleted Reserves
The scarcity has been exacerbated by “panic buying.” Fearing a total blackout of energy supplies, motorists have been queueing for hours to top up their tanks, further draining the government’s dwindling reserves. While stations like the Meghna Model Service Centre in Paribagh remained operational, they were swamped by overwhelming crowds, with queues of motorcycles and private cars stretching several hundred metres down the road.
Table: Status of Major Filling Stations in Dhaka (11 March 2026)
| Station Name | Location | Current Status | Last Delivery Received |
| Mohin Motors | Moghbazar | Closed | Thursday (Last week) |
| Purbachal Traders | Paribagh | Closed | No delivery from Padma Oil |
| Karim & Sons | Motijheel | Closed | Rationed (13k litres vs 30k) |
| Binimoy Filling | Dainik Bangla | Partial | Diesel only; Octane exhausted |
| Ramna Filling | Ramna | Open | High congestion/Long queues |
A Fragile Outlook
As the conflict in the Middle East continues to hamper global logistics, the immediate future of Bangladesh’s fuel market remains uncertain. While some station managers expressed hope that tankers currently at the depots would arrive by late afternoon, the fundamental issue remains a shortfall in national imports. Without a diplomatic resolution to the regional hostilities or an alternative procurement strategy, the “Closed” signs at Dhaka’s pumps may become a far more permanent fixture.