A severe fuel shortage in Khagrachhari district has left thousands of motorcycle taxi drivers struggling to sustain their livelihoods, with daily earnings dropping sharply amid disruptions in petrol supply.
An estimated 4,000 ride-sharing motorcyclists in the hill district have been affected as fuel scarcity hampers passenger transport. Drivers are spending long hours waiting in queues at filling stations but often fail to obtain sufficient fuel to operate throughout the day.
Motorcycle drivers said the crisis has significantly reduced their income.
Abdul Malek said his daily earnings have fallen from Tk 1,200–1,500 to just Tk 200–300.
'We stand in line for hours but still cannot get fuel. It has become very difficult to support our families,' he added.
Another driver, Shariful Islam, said he sometimes waits four to five hours to receive only about two liters of fuel.
'This amount is not enough to run my motorbike properly. Most of my time is spent waiting instead of working,' he said.
Due to the shortage, drivers are unable to maintain regular transport services, further impacting their income. In a region where public transportation is limited, motorcycle taxis remain a primary mode of travel for many residents.
Fuel station operators have denied allegations of stockpiling, saying the shortage is due to reduced supply from fuel depots. Rajesh Dey, manager of KC Filling Station, said they are distributing fuel as soon as it arrives without holding reserves.
Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Md Anwar Sadat said that authorities are taking steps to address the crisis.
He added that measures are being introduced to ensure priority fuel access for essential users, particularly motorcycle drivers and other transport operators, to help ease the ongoing shortage.
Prabir Sumon/MHK