Distant War, A Regional Shockwave: How Middle East Crisis Is Difficult For Pakistan | Hari Prasad

Описание: Distant war, a regional shockwave: How Middle East crisis is making life difficult For Pakistan | Hari Prasad
#PakistanFuelCrisis #IranWar #OilCrisis #MiddleEastConflict #PakistanEconomy #straitofhormuz

The escalating conflict in West Asia following joint United States and Israeli strikes on Iran has triggered a chain reaction far beyond the immediate battlefield. While missiles and drones dominate headlines in the Gulf, the economic aftershocks are being felt thousands of kilometres away in South Asia. Countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan, heavily dependent on imported energy and regional trade routes, are now grappling with fuel shortages, rising prices, panic buying and social unrest.
In Bangladesh, authorities have introduced fuel rationing for vehicles as fears of supply disruptions spread. Long queues have formed outside petrol stations in Dhaka and other cities, while protests and violence have erupted in some areas.

The country of around 170 million people imports roughly 95 percent of its oil and gas requirements, leaving it highly vulnerable to disruptions.
Following the strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks across the Gulf, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation restricted fuel sales for most vehicles in an effort to control panic buying.
Authorities imposed strict caps on purchases. Motorcyclists, for example, are now allowed to buy only two litres of fuel at a time.
"Consumers tend to buy more than they usually purchase" during times of crisis, BPC said in a statement.
Despite the rationing, the restrictions have triggered long lines at petrol stations across the capital Dhaka.
"I waited for more than an hour to get two litres," said motorcyclist Md Al-Amin, 45.
"My tank holds eight litres, and I usually fill up once a week so now I'll have to come back the day after tomorrow."
Public frustration and unrest over fuel shortages
The sudden restrictions have triggered anger among consumers already struggling with rising living costs.
AKM Ruhul Amin, a paediatrician in Dhaka, said the fuel he managed to buy was not enough.
"I already waited yesterday, and they closed the station just one car ahead of me," he said.
"I was only able to buy 10 litres today... the government could at least allow us to fill up completely."
Fuel distributors say the number of customers has nearly doubled as panic buying spreads.
Ahmad Rush, an official with Meghna Petroleum Ltd., said demand surged immediately after rationing was announced.
"We opened at 7:30 this morning and were able to refuel 300 vehicles in three and a half hours," he said.
The situation has already turned violent in some areas. In the southern district of Jhenaidah, a dispute over refuelling resulted in the death of 25 year old Nirob Hossain.
After the incident, angry crowds torched three buses and vandalised a filling station, according to police officer Md Mahfuz Afzal.
Government launches crackdown on fuel hoarding
Authorities in Bangladesh have begun inspecting petrol pumps across the country amid concerns that traders are hoarding fuel to profit from the crisis.
The energy ministry said reports had emerged of illegal stockpiling and fuel being sold above government approved limits.
"In the current crisis situation, various media outlets have reported that some unscrupulous traders are illegally stockpiling fuel in an attempt to create an artificial shortage in the market," the ministry said.
Mobile court operations were launched in Dhaka to inspect fuel stocks and ensure compliance with rationing rules.
Some filling stations were already running dry while others were found holding fuel reserves beyond permitted levels.
The government says such inspections are necessary to prevent smuggling, black market sales and artificial shortages.
Fertiliser factories shut as gas supply tightens
The energy crunch has also affected Bangladesh’s industrial sector.
Five out of the country’s six fertiliser factories have been temporarily shut down due to supply concerns.
An official from the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation, Ahsan Quddus Kuntal, said the plants would remain closed until at least March 18.
The shutdown raises concerns about agricultural production as fertiliser supply is critical for farming.
The government hopes fuel deliveries expected in the coming days will stabilise the situation.
Bangladesh may turn to US for LNG supplies
Bangladesh currently imports liquefied natural gas from Qatar, but the Middle East conflict has raised fears that shipments could be disrupted.
Industry leaders say the country may turn to American suppliers if Qatari deliveries are interrupted.
"Bangladesh imports LNG from Qatar, but if not from Qatar, I believe we have an agreement with the United States. Therefore, even at a higher price, the US companies might carry out the supply," said Farhan Noor, Secretary General of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association.