The conflict in the Middle East has triggered an unprecedented disruption to global fuel markets, tightening supply and placing significant pressure on consumers and economies worldwide.
The price of Brent crude—the international benchmark—has soared to over $100 per barrel, at $112.57 as of Sunday.
Energy markets reacted immediately after Iran curtailed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor that handles about 20% of the world’s oil.
To mitigate this global crisis, like many other countries, the Government of Bangladesh, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has announced a series of measures to address the impact of soaring global energy prices triggered by the US-Israel war with Iran.
As part of the measures, offices have been asked to maximize the use of natural daylight by keeping windows, doors and blinds open, and to avoid electric lighting when sufficient natural light is available.
Institutions have also been advised to reduce existing lighting by half and avoid using unnecessary lights.
Employees have been instructed to switch off lights, fans, air conditioners and other electrical appliances when not in use.
Air conditioners should be set at 25°C or higher, and all electrical devices must be turned off when leaving office rooms.
The guidelines also recommend reducing unnecessary lighting in corridors, staircases, washrooms and other common areas, while encouraging the use of energy-efficient appliances wherever possible.
After office hours, all electrical equipment, including computers, printers and scanners, must be switched off.
The government has also introduced a fuel rationing system that limits daily fuel sales at filling stations to prevent panic buying.
Meanwhile, four out of five state-run fertilizer factories have already been shut down to redirect gas supplies to power plants.
Measures to curb fuel hoarding
To curb the fuel hoarding amid this crisis the government has deployed the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) across multiple fuel depots in different districts to prevent hoarding, maintain market stability, and ensure uninterrupted supply.
Acting on directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, BGB personnel began operations on Wednesday, covering 19 depots across nine districts, according to a BGB press release.
In addition, District administrations in several areas, including Chuadanga District, have moved to introduce fuel cards in a bid to prevent hoarding amid ongoing concerns over supply and price pressures.
In Chuadanga, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Kamal Hossain said the decision was taken on Sunday following consultations with stakeholders.
“All vehicle owners in the district will be required to collect a fuel card from the deputy commissioner’s office,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
According to a public notice issued by the district administration, fuel cards will be distributed free of charge from Monday to Tuesday at the DC office.
Authorities have made it mandatory for consumers to present the card when purchasing petrol, octane, or diesel.
From April 1, fuel stations in the district will be barred from selling fuel to customers without a valid fuel card.
Though this is not a central decision, the local DCs are implementing this directive to stop fuel hoarding.
What other countries are doing?
According to The International Energy Agency (IEA) and several related sources, in Cambodia nearly one-third of petrol pumps have closed due to the fuel crisis.
Authorities are promoting online meetings, limiting AC temperatures to 24–25°C, reducing official travel, and urging the public to save electricity.
Egypt government offices close at 6pm with remote work allowed, and official travel is restricted to save energy.
Restaurants, cafés, shopping malls and the Khan El Khalili bazaar in central Cairo will close at 9pm.
Tourist attractions, including the Light and Sound show at the pyramids, will also shut early.
The public is urged to conserve fuel, limit lighting, comply with early shop closures, and use public transport.
In Indonesia, authorities have restricted travel by private transport for the civil servants and are promoting energy-saving measures in government office buildings.
The government is also seeking up to $4.7 billion in budget savings to cushion its economy from the fallout.
In South Korea, a five-day vehicle restriction system has been introduced for public institutions.
Authorities are also running campaigns promoting practical energy-saving actions and have requested top oil-consuming companies to reduce their energy use.
In Laos, authorities have introduced remote work and rotating shifts for civil servants and shortened the school week from five to three days.
The government is urging the public to conserve fuel through awareness campaigns, promoting public transport, and encouraging the use of electric vehicles by lowering excise taxes.
In Myanmar, authorities have made remote work mandatory for public officials on Wednesdays and introduced alternate-day driving rules for vehicles, alongside fuel rationing measures to curb consumption.
In Nepal, authorities have restricted the use of government vehicles and rationed LPG for cooking by allowing only half-filled cylinders.
The government is also urging the public to limit travel and adopt more energy-efficient practices to ease pressure on fuel supplies.
In Pakistan, authorities have introduced a four-day work week for public officials, limited official travel, and temporarily closed schools for two weeks while encouraging remote learning and later it extended till the end of March.
Local governments have been asked to implement energy-saving measures, and speed limits on highways have been reduced to curb fuel consumption.
Philippines authorities have introduced a four-day work week for public officials and limited non-essential government travel.
Public offices are capped at 24°C, a national energy emergency declared, and free bus rides offered in select cities to reduce fuel use.
In Sri Lanka, Public offices and schools are closed on Wednesdays, with remote work encouraged and offices capped at 26°C.
A QR code–based fuel rationing system limits private motorists to 15 liters per week, restricts official travel, promotes public transport, and mandates billboard lights off by 9pm.
In Thailand, authorities are encouraging remote work and video conferencing, setting air-conditioning limits to 26 degrees Celsius, and advising public officials to avoid overseas travel.
Office workers are being urged to limit energy use by taking stairs and switching off devices, while carpooling and reduced non-essential travel are being promoted.
The government is also increasing the biofuel blend in petrol as part of broader efforts to reduce fuel dependence.
In Vietnam, authorities are encouraging remote work and limiting travel by public officials.
Local governments have been asked to implement energy-saving measures, while the public is urged to reduce private vehicle use and adopt public transport or carpooling to ease fuel demand.
In New Zealand, the government is considering reintroducing “car-free days,” requiring motorists to designate one day per week when they will not be allowed to drive, as part of efforts to reduce fuel consumption.
China has taken a different approach by rolling back planned fuel price hikes, following a 20% increase in pump prices since the start of the Iran war, in an attempt to ease pressure on consumers.
In Europe, Slovenia has become the first EU member state to introduce fuel rationing, limiting private motorists to 50 liters per week, while businesses and farmers are allowed up to 200 liters.
In Germany, where fuel prices have surged sharply, authorities are considering measures such as limiting price changes at petrol stations to once per day, alongside possible subsidies and tax reforms.
To reduce fuel consumption The Dominican Republic is encouraging businesses to reduce on-site working hours while Zambia has warned of fines against fuel hoarding, reflecting growing concerns over supply shortages across Africa.
Globally, the International Energy Agency has also urged people to reduce air travel and rely more on public transport. It also recommended diverting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from transport use to essential domestic needs. In India, LPG imports have sharply declined, prompting the government to prioritize supply for around 300 million households that depend on it for cooking.
In South Sudan, authorities have begun rationing electricity in the capital, Juba, as fuel shortages strain power generation. The country, which relies on oil for around 96% of its electricity, according to the International Energy Agency, is facing prolonged outages.
In Mauritius, the government has imposed restrictions to reduce energy wastage, particularly in high-consumption areas, after delays in fuel shipments triggered an energy emergency.
Zimbabwe is increasing the ethanol content in petrol from 5% to 20% in a bid to reduce reliance on imported fuel. The government has also moved to remove certain taxes on fuel imports to ease price pressures, as fuel costs have surged sharply in recent weeks, affecting transport and small businesses.
