How the Iran war is impacting everyday life in Bangladesh
A fuel crisis triggered by the Iran war has emptied Dhaka’s streets, reduced transport and business activity, and disrupted daily life, hitting marginalised workers like rickshaw pullers, hawkers, and small vendors the hardest
4 PM. Location: Dholairpar — one of Dhaka's most important bus stands. Yet, in this typically bustling location, a rickshaw puller is fast asleep. Nearby, several others idle away.
The reason is clear: only a handful of buses are arriving, and passengers are scarce.
"If there were passengers, would he be sleeping like this?" remarked a nearby tea seller. He too sat idle.
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Though the transport sector is primarily struggling with a fuel crisis triggered by the Iran war, its ripple effects are being felt across multiple sectors. The impact is now clearly visible in everyday life. However, it is the marginalised — farmers, labourers and street hawkers — who have been hit the hardest.
The war's imprint on daily life
"At this time of day, it used to take at least half an hour to get from Hatirpool to Banglamotor. The traffic was unbearable! Now I crossed it in a minute. The streets are empty. Markets are closed," said rickshaw puller Golam Mohammad Mia.
He added that such emptiness is usually seen only during Eid.
Tea stalls, shopping malls, grocery shops, and poultry markets — signs of disruption are everywhere. As evening sets in, a strange stillness grips areas that were once among the busiest in Dhaka. Shopping malls and large stores begin shutting down early, calculating their daily earnings before pulling down their shutters.
The government's new measures to conserve electricity have left many struggling to adapt. Shopkeepers are forced to turn customers away and close early.
On Bir Uttam CR Dutta Road, one of Dhaka's largest sanitary goods markets, all shops were found closed by 8 pm. In front of the shuttered stores, hawkers had spread their goods across the wide pavements, selling everything from street food to household items. It resembled a small fair, yet customers were few. Darkness engulfed the area; even the streetlights were off.
Similar scenes are visible across the city. At Haji Hashem Plaza in Old Dhaka's Islampur market, Anwar Mia, who used to sell cigarettes in the evening to supplement his income, now struggles to find a place to sit as the market remains dark and deserted.
Evening-based small businesses, especially those operating on footpaths, are among the worst affected.
Even rickshaw pullers, who might have benefited, are not finding relief. Fewer people venture out in the evening due to electricity shortages.
"The number of passengers has decreased. After evening, people don't come out. Earlier, bus passengers would take rickshaws into local areas. Now we don't get those either," said Amir Hamza, a rickshaw puller in Shahbagh.
The crisis is further compounded by power shortage. Most rickshaws are now battery-operated and require charging at garages, which themselves face electricity disruptions.
Existing hardships intensify
Gas prices had already risen, and cylinders were difficult to obtain even at markups. During Ramadan, daytime sales were low. Now tea sellers, especially those operating on pavements, face renewed challenges.
Food establishments are grappling with both gas shortages and declining customer numbers. Evening used to be peak business hours, but that opportunity has now vanished.
It used to take at least half an hour to get from Hatirpool to Banglamotor. The traffic was unbearable. Now I crossed it in a minute. The streets are empty. Markets are closed.
A street vendor shared, "I used to make sufficient sales in front of markets in the evening. Now, as you can see, there are no people."
Commuters are also struggling. Ride-sharing motorcycles have decreased, and those still operating often refuse app-based trips. Meanwhile, fares for most modes of transport, except buses, have increased.
Rising prices and supply chain disruptions
The global rise in oil prices has increased Bangladesh's import costs, leading to higher transport fares and electricity production expenses. Industrial production is also being disrupted.
A grocery shop owner in Palashi said, "Prices of products are rising. Detergent prices have gone up by Tk10–15. They will rise further. Milk powder, baby food — everything is becoming expensive. Sometimes we cannot even get products."
Other import-dependent goods are also at risk of price hikes.
At Motaleb Plaza, shops now close by 6 pm. A mobile technician sitting outside explained that repair equipment imported from abroad is becoming more expensive, raising operational costs.
Supply chains under strain
After Eid, markets usually stabilise. This year, that rhythm is missing. Fuel shortages are disrupting supply chains, and the burden is falling squarely on ordinary households.
Restaurant owner Mohammad Sajal Mia explained, "Cooking oil price has increased by Tk15–20 per litre. Flour has gone up by Tk250–300 per sack. Sugar, gram flour — everything is rising."
Beef prices have also increased significantly due to higher transport costs. "Earlier, we bought beef at Tk700. Now it's Tk800–850," he added.
Transport difficulties are driving up costs at every stage, and vendors are passing these increases on to consumers.
In Madaripur, trader Alamin Sheikh said watermelon prices have surged from Tk12,000 to Tk18,000 per truck. Suppliers cite transport shortages.
At Karwan Bazar, shoppers complain about soaring poultry prices. "Sonali chicken is now Tk450 per kg. If prices rise further, we may have to stop eating protein," said Laily Anjum.
Vegetable sellers also report rising transport costs — from Tk15,000 to Tk20,000 per truck — forcing them to increase prices by Tk10–15 per kilogram.
An impending agricultural crisis
April is typically the sowing season for jute in southern regions like Faridpur. Yet many fields remain empty.
Farmers are unable to irrigate due to fuel shortages. Some have planted seeds but cannot water them.
Mansur Ali, who operates tractors, said five out of his seven tractors are idle due to a lack of diesel. Daily cultivation has dropped drastically.
"If this continues, crops will fail," he warned.
Irrigation costs have risen sharply, from Tk1,200 to Tk2,000 per bigha. Farmers now depend on rainfall, with no certainty of when irrigation will be possible.
Jute cultivation requires precise timing, and farmers are already two weeks behind schedule. Rising fertiliser and pesticide costs add to their uncertainty.
"Market conditions are worse than during Covid-19," one farmer remarked.
Teacher Dinesh Chandra Roy criticised the lack of attention to farmers' struggles, noting that while national discussions focus on high-level issues, basic agricultural concerns remain ignored.
Experts warn that fertiliser and pesticide prices may increase further.
