STORY: Dozens of vehicles queued at fuel stations in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka on Saturday (March 7) as the government imposed fuel rationing after panic buying and stockpiling raised concerns about supply as the war in the Middle East roiled global energy markets.

The measures followed U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran - and retaliatory strikes by Tehran across the Middle East - which have disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy route, and sent energy prices soaring.

Cars and motorcycles were seen queueing and waiting to get into petrol stations in Dhaka on Saturday as staff dispensed limited quantities of fuel in line with government directives.

Dhaka has capped sales at two litres of petrol per day for motorcycles and up to 10 litres for privately owned cars. Drivers said the allocation was insufficient, particularly for those who rely on ride‑sharing platforms such as Uber.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: DHAKA, BANGLADESH (MARCH 7, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES QUEUEING TO ENTER PETROL STATION

2. MOTORCYCLISTS WAITING IN QUEUE AT PETROL STATION

3. RIDER GETTING HIS MOTORCYCLE REFUELLED, REPLACING CAP

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Bengali) BANKER, IFTEKHAR AHMED NASIM, SAYING:

"The fuel I received is barely sufficient. But the time in the queue is very long. Once the fuel is finished, I will have to come back again, and stand in the queue for hours, again."

5. CARS QUEUING ALONG ONE LANE AS TRAFFIC PASSES

6. MOTORCYCLISTS WAITING IN QUEUE

7. CARS MOVING INTO PETROL STATION, TRAFFIC PASSING

8. FUEL BEING PUMPED INTO CAR

9. FUEL BEING PUMPED INTO MOTORCYCLE TANK

10. VARIOUS OF METERS

11. LINE OF VEHICLES MOVING SLOWLY

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Bengali) RIDE-SHARING MOTORCYCLIST, MOHAMMAD ASIF, SAYING:

"We will be in a dire situation if this continues. We are now suffering with the fuel but our (ride-hailing) fares are not rising. Rather, they are going down."

13. RIDERS PUSHING THEIR BIKES INTO PETROL STATION

14. STAFF AT PETROL STATION WALKING OUT

15. SIGNS, READING (Bengali): “NO OCTANE” / “NO DIESEL”

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Bengali) PETROL STATION STAFF, MOHAMMAD RIAZ, SAYING:

"Everyone including motorcyclists and car drivers are stockpiling fuel. Therefore a shortage is created at many petrol stations. This is panic, it has spread spontaneously."

17. STAFF TURNING AWAY VEHICLES

18. TRAFFIC PASSING ALONG ROAD