Bangladesh Hike Jet Fuel Price: The energy crisis arising due to increasing tension in the Middle East has created an outcry across the world. While the prices of premium petrol and industrial fuel (diesel) have been increased in India and many industries are being affected due to the shortage of LPG, the situation in the neighboring country Bangladesh has become even worse. Due to the energy crisis, air travel is going to become expensive because the prices of jet fuel have been increased significantly.

Outcry in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Tuesday increased the prices of jet fuel by about 80 percent. This is the second increase within a month. After this, the price of domestic air fuel has increased from 112.41 taka to 202.29 taka, while for international flights its price has been increased from $ 0.7384 to $ 1.3216 per liter. Air fuel prices in Bangladesh have increased by more than 100 percent since the start of the Iran-related war.

This is likely to have a direct impact on air travel, which has especially increased the concerns of those who are expatriates working in the Middle East and who are more dependent on air travel.

Strait of Hormuz open to friendly countries

On the other hand, Iran’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alireza Dilkhush has said that the Strait of Hormuz is open to friendly countries. He also said that Iran is ready to supply oil and other essential commodities to countries like Sri Lanka if needed. It is noteworthy that due to tension in West Asia, this important sea route has been affected, through which about 20 percent of the global energy supply passes. In such a situation, any obstruction in this route can deepen the energy crisis in the entire world.

This conflict related to Iran has been going on for almost four weeks now and if this tension prolongs further, the global situation is expected to worsen further.

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Pakistan Bangladesh Direct Flight: In an important diplomatic and transport related step in the relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, direct air service between the two countries has once again started after a long gap of 14 years. The first non-stop flight from Dhaka to Karachi departed on Thursday night, restoring direct air connectivity between the two countries.

First direct flight on Dhaka-Karachi route since 2012

On Thursday, the first direct flight operated by Bangladesh’s state-run airlines landed at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, where it was welcomed with the traditional water salute. This is the first direct flight on the Dhaka-Karachi route since 2012.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider and many senior officials were present at the inauguration ceremony held in Dhaka. A special program was also organized at Karachi Airport to commemorate this historic occasion. According to news agency Xinhua, Bangladesh Airlines has currently been allowed to operate flights on this route till March 30.

Service will be available two days a week

Under the new arrangement, the airline will operate flights twice a week on Thursday and Saturday. The flight will depart from Dhaka at 8 pm and reach Karachi at 11 pm. The return flight will take off from Karachi at 12 midnight and reach Dhaka at 4:20 am.

Till now, passengers traveling between the two countries had to take connecting flights through international hubs like Dubai or Doha. Starting direct flights will not only reduce travel time, but will also boost trade, tourism and people-to-people contact.

Sign of warmth returning in relationships

The resumption of direct air service has come at a time when the relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan are gradually improving and warming. Citing security concerns, the then Sheikh Hasina government had suspended direct flights in 2012. After the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power following the student movement in Bangladesh in August 2024, new positivity has started appearing in the relations between the two countries.

Approval received after high level talks

Talks regarding Dhaka-Karachi direct flight were going on since last year. The plan was formally announced during the visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka in August 2025. This was the first high-level political visit between the two countries in more than a decade, which gave a new direction to bilateral relations.