Signs of panic buying were seen at several filling stations across Dhaka on Thursday as motorists rushed to purchase petrol and diesel amid fears of possible fuel supply disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Long queues of vehicles were observed at many fuel stations in the capital, significantly longer than on normal days, as drivers attempted to refill their tanks earlier than usual.
Pump operators said demand for fuel rose sharply throughout the day, with the number of vehicles waiting in line continuing to increase since morning.
Dulal Mahmud, a resident of the capital’s Mohammadpur area, said he sent his driver to refuel his car after hearing concerns about potential supply disruptions.
“Even I panicked and asked my driver to buy fuel immediately. I started thinking about travelling to Lalmonirhat during Eid and worried there might be a shortage by then because of the Middle East crisis,” he said.
According to him, his driver reached a filling station opposite InterContinental Dhaka around 11:30am but was still waiting in the queue two hours later.
“People there are scrambling for fuel, but I still don’t know when we will get it,” he added.
A Mirpur resident said his driver had gone to a filling station near Kalyanpur in the morning and was still waiting in line hours later.
However, authorities have not issued any official notice about a disruption or possible disruption in the domestic fuel supply.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has urged the public to conserve electricity and fuel during the holy month of Ramadan amid concerns over potential global supply shocks.
In a notification issued on March 4, the ministry advised people to limit the use of private vehicles, avoid decorative lighting and use electricity and fuel more economically.
The ministry said continuing instability in the Middle East could disrupt global energy supplies and temporarily strain the country’s fuel sector.
Regional tensions escalated after Israel launched what it described as a “pre-emptive” strike against Iran on February 28, pushing the region into renewed confrontation and dimming hopes for a diplomatic resolution to Tehran’s long-running nuclear dispute with the West.
The strike followed repeated warnings from the United States and Israel that they might take military action if Iran continued advancing its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
Iran later responded with counterattacks targeting Israeli and US military assets across the Middle East.
Tensions further intensified on March 2 when a drone strike hit the Saudi Aramco Ras Tanura refinery in eastern Saudi Arabia, one of the kingdom’s key oil processing facilities.
Saudi authorities said the facility was struck by an Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone, causing a small fire that was quickly brought under control. As a precaution, Saudi Aramco temporarily halted operations at the refinery to assess possible damage.
The attack immediately shook global energy markets, pushing Brent crude prices to around $80 per barrel — roughly 8–9 percent higher than earlier trading levels.
The retaliatory strikes across the Gulf have triggered widespread business disruption across the region, forcing airport closures, halting port operations and rattling financial markets.
The developments have heightened concerns in energy-importing countries such as Bangladesh, where authorities are urging caution and conservation to mitigate potential supply pressures.
