Bangladesh rations fuel as US-Iran war stresses energy supplies

Bangladesh has initiated nationwide fuel rationing as escalating conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran disrupts critical energy supplies, triggering panic buying and violent unrest. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), the state-owned oil company, imposed strict purchase limits on Sunday following retaliatory strikes in the Gulf, capping sales for most vehicle types. This drastic measure comes after a man was killed in Jhenaidah district during an altercation with petrol station staff over refueling, underscoring the rising public tension.

The energy crunch exposes the extreme vulnerability of Bangladesh, a nation of 170 million people that imports 95% of its oil and gas needs. Specific rationing measures include limiting motorcyclists to just two liters (0.5 US gallons) per purchase. The BPC stated that consumers are buying far beyond usual amounts, prompting the caps to prevent hoarding and manage dwindling reserves. Long queues have formed at stations across the country as the war-induced supply shock from a key global oil-producing region sends ripples through import-dependent economies.