Bangladesh tightens belt amid fuel crunch

Published March 10, 2026 Updated March 10, 2026 07:21am

DHAKA: Bangladesh has tightened security at filling stations, sent students home and scrapped light displays for independence and Eid celebrations, officials said on Monday, as the Middle East war worsens the country’s energy crunch.

The South Asian nation of 170 million people imports 95 per cent of its oil and gas needs. Following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corp restricted fuel sales for most vehicles on Sunday.

The BPC said in a statement that if fuel consumption is cut by 25pc, Bangladesh will have 14 days of diesel left. The government has requested people to stop panic buying.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2026

Opinion

Editorial

Iran’s new leader
Updated 10 Mar, 2026

Iran’s new leader

The position is the most powerful in Iran, bringing together clerical authority and political and ideological leadership.
National priorities
10 Mar, 2026

National priorities

EVEN as the country faces heightened risks of attacks from actual terrorists, an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi...
Silenced march
10 Mar, 2026

Silenced march

ON the eve of International Women’s Day, Islamabad Police detained dozens of Aurat March activists who had ...
War & deception
Updated 09 Mar, 2026

War & deception

While there is little doubt that Iran is involved in many of the retaliatory attacks, the facts raise suspicions that another player may be at work.
The witness box
09 Mar, 2026

The witness box

IT is often the fear of the courtroom and what may transpire therein that drives many victims of crime, especially...
Asylum applications
09 Mar, 2026

Asylum applications

BRITAIN’S tough immigration posture has again drawn attention to the sharp rise in asylum claims by Pakistani...