An investigative report by Amar Desh claims that Bangladesh’s recent fuel crisis, triggered by Middle East tensions, was worsened by a powerful domestic syndicate allegedly tied to former Awami League leaders and officials. Despite nearly doubling fuel imports between March and May 2026, the shortage persisted until the government raised fuel prices on April 19, after which the crisis abruptly ended. Customs data show that 97 ships brought over 2.7 million tons of fuel in 70 days, yet supply disruptions continued.
The report alleges that a large portion of the fuel market operates outside the state distribution system through smuggled supplies controlled by politically connected groups. Many tankers used for illegal fuel transport are reportedly owned by former ministers, MPs, and bureaucrats linked to the Awami League. Experts cited in the report describe this parallel market as an “open secret” that undermines the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation’s capacity.
Analysts warn that without stricter monitoring and transparency, similar crises could recur. The BPC acknowledged the sudden resolution of the shortage after the price hike but offered no explanation.
সোহাগ কুমার বিশ্বাস, চট্টগ্রাম প্রকাশ : ২৪ মে ২০২৬, ০৮: ৩৫আপডেট : ২৪ মে ২০২৬, ০৯: ২৫ মধ্যপ্রাচ্য সংকটকে কেন্দ্র করে দেশে তৈরি হওয়া জ্বালানি তেলের অস্থিরতার পেছনে শুধু বৈশ্বিক বাজার নয়, কাজ করেছে শক্তিশালী একটি অভ্যন্তরীণ সিন্ডিকেটও। সংকটের সে সময়ে স্
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