Dhaka, March 13 -- Fears of fuel shortages and price hikes have resulted in long queues of cars and motorcycles at petrol pumps in the capital on Thursday, as panic buying continued following the escalating military conflicts in the Middle East.

The situation led to significant, sometimes kilometre-long queues at filling stations in areas like Mirpur, Dhanmondi, Shahbagh, Motijheel, Jatrabari and other areas of the city.

The surge in demand has forced many filling stations to operate under strict rationing, resulting in hours-long waits for motorists despite government officials maintaining that there is no real shortage.

The rush stems from fears of a supply crunch driven by the ongoing Middle East conflict, prompting residents to fil...