Every year, as Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, millions of people leave the congested capital of Dhaka for their ancestral homes. Even in normal times, the annual exodus is a logistical nightmare. This year, however, the journey faces an additional obstacle: a severe fuel shortage that has left buses hesitant to leave the terminals.

The government is scrambling to secure alternative fuel sources amid the US-Israel war on Iran, as the lion’s share of Bangladesh’s fuel imports originates from the Middle East.

Filling stations across the country, including in Dhaka and Chattogram, were overcrowded on the weekend as panic buying continued amid fears of supply disruptions due to the war in the Middle East.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid has called upon the public to not pay heed to any rumours regarding shortage in fuel stock in the country.