Bangladesh’s ride-hailing drivers are losing half their income waiting in fuel lines as the Iran war strains the country’s fuel supply

Bangladesh, which imports nearly 95% of its petroleum, has been experiencing severe fuel shortages since early March when the U.S.-Iran war disrupted oil tanker shipments, forcing Dhaka's ride-hailing drivers to spend hours in rationing queues rather than earning fares, with some reporting their monthly income cut nearly in half. Platforms like Uber and Pathao have maintained the same commission rates and fares throughout the crisis, leaving drivers to absorb the full financial impact of time lost waiting in line and reduced trip volumes. The government has launched a QR code-based Fuel Pass rationing system at seven stations in Dhaka, though drivers say the registration website is frequently inaccessible due to server problems.