{
  "id": 8899861,
  "title": "Bangladesh raises fuel prices as Middle East conflict drives up costs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/bangladesh-raises-fuel-prices-as-middle-east-conflict-drives-up-costs-8899861",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-21T10:22:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CNA - Business",
    "slug": "cna-business",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/bangladesh-raises-fuel-prices-middle-east-conflict-drives-up-costs-6399501"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "DHAKA, September 21 - Bangladesh has hiked fuel prices by up to 17.4 percent, putting additional strain on consumers and businesses amid surging global oil prices and higher shipping costs resulting from the Middle East conflict. Effective from Monday, the new rates will likely escalate transportation and production costs across an economy dependent on imports, further inflating inflationary pressures during a time when industries, including the garment export sector, are already facing an acute energy shortage. Mohiuddin Rubel, additional managing director of Denim Expert Ltd, which caters to brands such as H&M, stated that maintaining competitiveness hinges on the speed and affordability of delivering products to consumers, with fuel, power, and gas costs playing a significant role.\n\nThe Energy Ministry reported that international fuel prices had more than doubled since March 2026, while freight charges had risen due to regional instability. Diesel prices surged 17.4 percent to 135 taka ($1.11) per liter from 115 taka, while 95-octane gasoline prices increased to 165 taka per liter from 145 taka, and petrol rose to 160 taka from 140 taka. Kerosene prices also climbed to 155 taka from 135 taka.\n\nThis price hike follows previous increases in April and June, when the government also raised fuel prices to counter rising import costs driven by higher global oil prices. The higher fuel prices could reduce the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation's annual losses by about 100 billion taka, conserve foreign exchange reserves, and curb fuel smuggling to neighboring countries where prices are more expensive. The ministry also highlighted ongoing subsidies for liquefied natural gas, emphasizing the government's commitment to supporting electricity and gas supplies despite heightened import costs due to the regional energy crisis.\n\nThe fuel price increase has sparked concern among exporters, who warned that the rising fuel costs will exacerbate the challenges faced by manufacturers already grappling with energy shortages and tight margins. Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries and chairman of garment exporter Evince Group, stated that the fuel price hike will adversely affect everyone from common citizens to businesses and industries, fueling inflation, raising production and transportation costs, potentially leading to job losses, and compelling some businesses to scale back operations.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "IRGC says it downed another US MQ-1 drone over Hormuz Strait",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/irgc-says-it-downed-another-us-mq-1-drone-over-hormuz-strait",
        "published": "2026-09-21T04:54:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Iran’s Revolutionary Guard downs US MQ-1 drone over Strait of Hormuz",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/irans-revolutionary-guard-downs-us-mq-1-drone-over-strait-of-hormuz",
        "published": "2026-09-21T06:07:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Iran claims it shot down US drone over Strait of Hormuz",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/iran-claims-it-shot-down-us-drone-over-strait-of-hormuz",
        "published": "2026-09-21T08:34:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Strait of Hormuz vessel traffic remains thin amid Middle East tensions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/strait-of-hormuz-vessel-traffic-remains-thin-amid-middle-east-tensions",
        "published": "2026-09-21T08:52:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Bangladesh raises fuel prices as Middle East conflict drives up costs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/bangladesh-raises-fuel-prices-as-middle-east-conflict-drives-up-costs",
        "published": "2026-09-21T10:22:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}