Dhaka, April 3 -- Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has warned that the skyrocketing cost of fuel in the global market is "severely draining" the finances, hinting that a domestic price hike may be unavoidable if the Middle East conflict persists.

Speaking to reporters on Friday after an award ceremony at the Korean EPZ in Chattogram, he admitted that while the government has managed to maintain supply so far, the financial burden of massive subsidies is becoming unsustainable.

"The ongoing war in the Middle East is not just a crisis for Bangladesh, it is a global one. Most of our oil and gas supplies come from that region. The war essentially threatens to shut down our supply chain," the minister said.

The finance minister...