BGB on high alert as Middle East crisis triggers oil smuggling fears

The move comes amid the government rationing fuel sales at filling stations following the escalation of the Middle East crisis

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intensified patrols and surveillance along the Jashore border to prevent fuel smuggling amid rising global oil prices triggered by the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Lt Col Saifullah Siddiqui, commanding officer of the Jashore-49 BGB Battalion, announced the move in a media release issued on Friday afternoon.

The move comes on the same day the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) started rationing supplies at filling stations amid fears of a fuel shortage triggered by the US-Israel strikes on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation.

Filling stations in Dhaka and the northern district of Rajshahi have already reported a surge in demand, with long queues of vehicles snaking out onto the streets amid fears of a potential fuel crisis.

[Updates to follow]