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Bangladesh·Energy·Trade & Economy

Bangladesh's gig workers bear the brunt of fuel shortages tied to Iran-US conflict

Friday, 17 April 2026, 16:14 · 1 min read

Ride-hailing and delivery drivers in Dhaka, Bangladesh, are spending hours each day queuing at petrol stations after disruptions to global oil shipping — triggered by the US-Israel conflict with Iran — delayed tanker deliveries to the import-dependent country, which sources roughly 95% of its petroleum from abroad. Workers like 25-year-old Uber and Pathao (a Bangladeshi on-demand ride and delivery platform) driver Rubel Malita report their monthly income nearly halving, while the platforms continue charging unchanged commission rates and offer no financial relief during the crisis. The government has introduced a QR code-based fuel rationing scheme and insists reserves remain sufficient for two months, but drivers say the registration system is plagued by server failures, and economists warn that without targeted support the financial pressure on Bangladesh's gig workforce will continue to deepen.

Sources
Rest of WorldBangladesh’s gig workers are stuck in gas lines as Iran-U.S. war strains fuel supply ↗︎
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