Freight rates have jumped by at least BDT 5,000–7,000 per truck at Benapole, Bangladesh’s largest land port, as transporters cite fuel shortages triggered by more than a month of fighting in the Middle East. Traders fear the higher transport costs will push up prices for consumers.

Rates on the Dhaka route have risen to BDT 28,000–30,000 per truck from BDT 22,000–23,000 before April 2. The steepest rises have hit the Chattogram and Sylhet routes. Costs have increased to BDT 40,000–42,000 for 15-tonne loads at the Chattogram route.

Abul Kashem, a truck driver carrying a full load from Benapole to Dhaka, said the increase had jumped within days. “If this continues, our business will collapse,” he added.

Another driver, Abdus Sobhan, said he was paying BDT 5,000 more per trip. “When owners try to recover this money, it will hit product prices.”

Sobhan expressed frustration, arguing that Bangladesh faces no real diesel shortage and that trucks are moving with adequate supplies. “Owners have raised rates using the fuel crisis as an excuse. Ordinary traders are helpless,” he said.

Azim Uddin Gazi, general secretary of the Benapole Transport Owners’ Association, acknowledged that diesel supplies are not seriously constrained but said pumps are receiving only half of the demand, creating difficulties.

The Benapole land port handles 350–400 import trucks and 250–300 export trucks daily, according to Ziaur Rahman, general secretary of the Benapole Import–Export Association. He said owners suddenly raised rates from April 2, despite no increase in fuel prices. “Traders are in deep trouble. They say they will have to raise prices of their product, and that will hit consumers.”

Ejaz Uddin Tipu, joint secretary of the Jashore Chamber of Commerce and an importer, blamed hoarders. “There’s no fuel crisis. Some dishonest people are hoarding oil, forcing pumps to struggle with customers. Owners have exploited this to raise truck fares. Everything will become more expensive.”