The Current How the US-Israel-Iran war is revealing our overdependency on fossil fuels
Mar 18, 2026
Salman Saeed, a Dhaka-based reporter covering fuel shortages and black-market impacts. Andrew Leach, an energy and environmental economist and professor at the University of Alberta. They discuss chaotic pump lineups and adulterated fuel in Bangladesh. They explore how supply shocks raise prices, strain transport and agriculture, and expose global dependence on oil while testing energy security and policy choices.
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Dhaka Gas Line Chaos
- Salman Saeed described chaotic fuel station scenes in Dhaka with motorcyclists queuing for hours for petrol.
- He reported pumps shut or rationing, and long waits even after some easing, showing acute local scarcity.
Black Market Fuel Damaging Vehicles
- Salman Saeed described a thriving black market selling mixed, lower-quality fuel at double price.
- He said mechanics are overloaded because adulterated petrol clogs carburetors and causes breakdowns across vehicles.
Fuel Shortage Hitting Jobs And Remittances
- Saeed explained broader economic impacts: higher commodity and transport costs and stranded migrant workers due to flight cancellations.
- He warned garment factories face higher production costs ahead of Eid and Independence Day holidays.