A surge in global oil prices triggered by the war in the Middle East has begun causing unrest in several Asian countries, particularly those heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels.
The rising costs have led to public frustration at petrol stations and prompted governments to intervene in an effort to stabilize fuel supplies.
Long queues have been reported at fuel stations in countries such as Vietnam, Pakistan, and Philippines, although the situation in many other parts of the region remains relatively calm.
In Bangladesh — where about 95 percent of oil and gas needs are met through imports — authorities have deployed the military to guard key oil depots, while police have increased patrols around fuel stations.
A petrol station employee, Ashrafuzzaman Dulal, described a violent incident on Sunday, saying angry motorbike riders vandalised a station after it failed to receive fuel deliveries from the depot. By Tuesday, Shahjahan Traders, one of the oldest petrol stations in the capital Dhaka, had posted a notice apologising to customers after running out of fuel.
The energy crisis has pushed the South Asian nation of around 170 million people to introduce fuel rationing measures, close educational institutions temporarily, and cancel decorative lighting for celebrations to conserve power.
Tensions escalated further when a 25-year-old man was killed in the southern district of Jhenaidah on Saturday night following a dispute over refuelling at a petrol station. After his death, angry crowds reportedly set three buses on fire and damaged a filling station, according to police.
Meanwhile, neighbouring India has tightened controls on natural gas and cooking gas supplies after disruptions to imports linked to the Middle East conflict.
The country, the world’s most populous nation, is the fourth-largest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the second-largest importer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), much of which comes from the Middle East.
In a directive issued Tuesday, India’s Ministry of Petroleum said the ongoing conflict had disrupted LNG shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The new rules aim to ensure fair distribution of limited supplies and prioritise essential sectors.
Under the order, LNG supplies will first be allocated to households, the transport sector, and LPG production.
However, the restrictions have raised concerns within the hospitality industry. Restaurants and hotels across the country have warned of potential disruptions after another government directive prioritised domestic LPG supplies for households.
The National Restaurant Association of India said LPG distributors nationwide had already indicated that deliveries to restaurants might be halted. The association warned that the restaurant sector depends heavily on commercial LPG, and any prolonged interruption could force many establishments to shut down.
PC Rao, head of a hotel industry association in the southern tech hub Bengaluru, described the situation as “dire,” noting that businesses were increasingly worried about how long they could continue operating under such constraints.
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