The escalating conflict in the Middle East has sent ripples through the remote hills of Khagrachhari, where a severe fuel shortage has disrupted the local transport network and slashed the earnings of thousands of ride-sharing motorcyclists. In a region where narrow, winding roads make larger vehicles impractical, motorcycles serve as the primary mode of public transport. Ride-sharers’ previous average daily income was Tk 1,200–Tk 1,500, but it has now dropped to below Tk 200–Tk 300. I don’t know how I will run my household.”Another motorcyclist Al Amin described waiting six hours at a pump only to receive Tk 100 worth of fuel—hardly enough for a single long-distance trip. “In the deep hills, motorcycles and ‘Chander Gari’ (local customised jeeps) are our only hope,” explained Md Ibrahim, another biker.

Source: bd News24 April 04, 2026 00:30 UTC