Bangladesh is facing the risk of widespread disruption in mobile and internet services as fuel shortages worsen due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to telecom operators.
Industry stakeholders warned on Monday that continued operations may become unsustainable if the situation does not improve quickly.
The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) said the country’s telecom infrastructure is under severe pressure due to a lack of fuel needed to run backup generators and data centres. In a letter sent to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, the group stated that the crisis has now gone beyond operational control.
Bangladesh, a nation of around 17 crore people, imports nearly 95 per cent of its oil and gas, much of it from the Middle East. The ongoing war-driven fuel disruption has already caused long queues at petrol stations, with some motorists waiting up to 12 hours or more to refuel.
AMTOB warned that if fuel supply shortages continue, there is a “serious risk” of large-scale telecom network shutdowns across major parts of the country.
It said mobile network operators are already experiencing critical stress due to unstable electricity supply and insufficient diesel reserves for backup systems.
The association added that telecom data centres consume around 500-600 litres of diesel per hour, or nearly 4,000 litres per day per facility, a demand that local fuel stations are struggling to meet. Several key facilities, it said, are now operating on dangerously low reserves.
AMTOB Secretary General Mohammad Zulfikar warned that any shutdown of data centres could trigger a nationwide communication breakdown. He said even partial outages could severely disrupt calls, internet access, SMS services, and other digital communications, as these centres manage and route network traffic.
“The internet may slow down significantly or stop entirely,” he noted, describing data centres as the “command hubs” of the telecom system.
Meanwhile, the government recently raised fuel prices amid the global crisis. Diesel prices increased by 15 per cent, while petrol saw a 16 per cent hike.
Energy officials said the adjustment was necessary due to global market pressures.
Despite policy measures, fuel shortages persist, affecting daily life. Commuters and transport operators reported long delays at fuel stations, with some waiting more than 10 to 16 hours to refill vehicles.
The situation continues to raise concerns over potential disruptions to essential services if fuel supply constraints are not resolved soon.
