A diesel shortage in Shariatpur has left thousands of fishermen idle, disrupting livelihoods, fish supply and river trade as global fuel shocks linked to the Iran war hit Bangladesh.
A severe diesel shortage has left thousands of fishermen in Bangladesh’s riverine district of Shariatpur unable to take their boats into the rivers, as global fuel disruptions linked to the ongoing Iran war ripple into local livelihoods.
The crisis is threatening income, food supply, and economic stability in one of the country’s key inland fishing zones, highlighting the vulnerability of fuel-import-dependent nations like Bangladesh.
For 55-year-old fisherman Sirajul Islam Dhali from Char Mohan village in Naria upazila, the situation has brought life to a standstill.
Having spent nearly 45 years fishing, Sirajul now operates an engine-powered boat with six workers. But for the past seven days, his boat has remained anchored due to the lack of diesel.
“I started going to the river with my father when I was just 10 years old. Even after all these years, life has not changed much, except that we now have an engine on the boat,” he said. “Now that same engine has become the reason for our suffering. There is no fuel in the market, so the boat has been idle for a week. My family and the workers are in serious trouble. I have never faced such a situation in my life.”
Sirajul’s struggle is shared by thousands of other fishermen across the district.
According to the District Fisheries Office, around 33,000 fishermen depend on the Padma and Meghna rivers that flow through Shariatpur. From Naodoba in Jazira to Nalmuri in Gosairhat, the district has nearly 71 kilometers of active river routes where fishing remains the primary source of income.
Most traditional rowboats have now been replaced by engine-powered vessels. Officials estimate that the district has at least 12,000 such boats, requiring 35,000 to 40,000 liters of diesel every day.
However, local markets along the riverbanks have been unable to meet demand in recent days. The shortage reflects wider global supply disruptions, as the Iran war has driven up oil prices and disrupted shipping routes, particularly through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for global energy supplies.
The Bangladesh government has already warned of potential fuel shortages due to disruptions in global energy supply chains linked to the conflict.
The crisis has raised concerns not only over livelihoods but also over fish supply to local markets, which may drive up prices for consumers in the coming days.
Some fishermen report being forced to buy diesel at inflated prices, paying an additional Tk50 to Tk60 per liter above the normal rate.
Abu Sufian, a 40-year-old fisherman from Goriber Char in Gosairhat, said he has been stranded in the Sureshwar area of Naria for five days after running into the fuel shortage while fishing on the Padma River.
“Only two liters of diesel are available in the market, and that too at Tk160 per liter,” he said. “With this amount, we can fish for only two to three hours. Some days we catch fish, some days we don’t. We do not know how long this can continue.”
Local trader Rifat Hossain, who brings diesel from the Meghna Petroleum Depot in Chandpur, said supply from the depot has been inadequate.
“There is a daily demand of 3,000 to 4,000 liters at my shop, but we have not been receiving enough diesel for the past few days,” he said, while denying allegations of overpricing.
District Fisheries Officer Biswajit Kumar Dev said the shortage began after Eid.
“Before Eid, there was no problem in fuel supply for the fishermen. After Eid, shortages emerged in several river markets. We have informed the higher authorities and hope the crisis will be resolved soon,” he said.
The diesel shortage has once again exposed the vulnerability of Bangladesh’s river-dependent communities, where even a short disruption in global energy supply can leave thousands without income and threaten local food chains. With no immediate relief in sight, thousands of families remain uncertain about how they will survive the coming days.
