Neighbouring Country's Fuel Crisis Worsens, Petrol Stations Crowded - Operating Hours Restricted

Vehicles are filling up with fuel at a petrol station amid growing concerns over fuel supplies in the midst of the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Monday (6/4/2026). (REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain) The Bangladesh government has taken measures to address the energy crisis resulting from the Middle East conflict by reducing office hours to 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and ordering markets and shopping centres to close at 6:00 p.m. to save electricity. (REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain) To reduce fuel consumption, purchases have also been restricted by shortening the operating hours of petrol stations to avoid panic buying, hoarding, and long queues. (REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain) One petrol station in Dhaka shows long queues of two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles waiting to refuel snaking since midday. (REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain) Citing Reuters, Bangladeshi officials said these measures were approved by the cabinet last Thursday to stabilise the energy situation in Bangladesh, which heavily relies on fuel imports and is impacted by price volatility and supply uncertainty due to the US-Israel war with Iran. (REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain) The government has also ordered cuts to non-essential public expenditure and urged reductions in electricity consumption in industry, with restrictions on excessive lighting. (REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain) The Bangladesh Ministry of Education will also issue guidelines for schools, with options such as schedule adjustments and a shift to online classes under consideration. (REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain) The government is also seeking external financing of more than US$2.5 billion, or approximately Rp 42.6 trillion, to help pay for fuel and liquefied natural gas imports, as rising energy costs increasingly pressure foreign exchange reserves. (REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain)