Dhaka, March 27 -- 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 int...