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Published : 27 Mar 2026, 07:54 PM
A severe fuel crisis in Pabna has derailed the post-Eid journey for thousands of people returning to their workplaces in Dhaka, as a scarcity of petrol and diesel thinned out public transport, leaving commuters in deep distress.
The shortage has not only grounded long-haul buses but also disrupted internal routes and speedboat services, forcing travellers to scramble for any available means of transport.
The crisis has manifested in gruelling scenes at filling stations and transit points, where hundreds of motorcyclists and vehicle drivers were seen waiting in winding queues for hours.
Most pumps in the district headquarters and surrounding Upazilas have hung "no stock" boards, while the few operational ones have introduced strict rationing, triggering panic among the public and swelling the already-large crowds.
For those travelling with families, the situation has turned into an ordeal.
"If I were alone, I would have managed to hop from one vehicle to another, but waiting for hours with my family is unbearable," said Fahimul Kabir, who was spotted waiting for a bus to Dhaka at Radhanagar.
Another commuter, Rumon Hossain, expressed frustration over the lack of vehicles.
"The roads are nearly empty because of the fuel crunch. The suffering of trying to return to the capital after leaving my family behind is indescribable," he told bdnews24.com.
The shortage has also hit the Kazirhat-Aricha water route.
Speedboat operators reported that despite a massive surge in passengers, they were unable to launch their vessels due to empty tanks.
"We usually hope for a little extra income during Eid to cover year-long losses, but this time we can't even start the engines," lamented Abdul Khalek, a boat driver.
Bus operators attempted to capitalise on the desperation by charging exorbitant fares.
Authorities conducted mobile courts to curb overcharging of commuters.
