The ongoing fuel crisis has hit Bangladesh quite hard. It is not uncommon to see queues in front of petrol stations that seem to stretch from Tetulia to Teknaf. One only needs to glance out of a window in Mohakhali to see just how far the line goes. Speak to the drivers, and you will understand that they have been standing there for hours, waiting for something magical to happen or for someone to bless the petrol station clerk with superpowers.
But cast your mind back a few years, when a massive wave of traffic jams swept across the country and people became creative. Stuck for hours with no hope inside cramped public transport, bus drivers and helpers turned to sport. To pass the time, they started playing cricket in the middle of the road. After all, it is Bangladesh’s second biggest game.
That video of people playing cricket got us thinking. If you are stuck for 7–8 hours, would you not rather do something other than curse and watch civilisation rise and fall around your CNG? Here are five ways you can utilise your time while stuck in a fuel queue.
Rent your spot
Why suffer alone when you can monetise it? As the hours pass, your position in the queue slowly transforms from a burden into a premium real estate opportunity. Front-row spots near the pump can be leased at “family discount” rates, while those further back may require aggressive bargaining. Expect negotiations, emotional appeals, and at least one person claiming, “I was here before you, mate.” Congratulations, you are now part of the informal fuel economy.
Start vlogging
When life gives you a stationary vehicle, make content. Launch your own vlog where every episode is filmed from the exact same spot, with only your growing frustration marking the passage of time. Interview fellow queue members, provide live “line updates” that never change, and throw in the occasional philosophical rant. With enough consistency, you might even build a loyal audience equally stuck in their own queues.
Take a nap
In a country where a full night’s sleep is often aspirational, the fuel queue offers a rare gift, forced stillness. Recline your seat, ignore the symphony of honking, and drift into a nap that may last anywhere from 10 minutes to a full REM cycle. Of course, you will wake up in mild panic, thinking the queue has moved only to find you have advanced exactly half a tyre’s length. Rested, but humbled.
Catch up on the latest music
This is your chance to finally listen to all those songs you have been saving “for later”. Create a playlist that reflects your emotional journey, from hopeful optimism to quiet despair. By hour three, you are deeply analysing lyrics you never cared about before. By hour five, even the Mr Noodles adverts start sounding meaningful. By the time you reach the pump, you have either found a new favourite artist or completely lost faith in music.
Age gracefully
If none of the above works, you can always lean into the experience and embrace the slow passage of time. Enter the queue as one version of yourself and emerge slightly older, slightly wiser, and significantly more patient. You may notice subtle changes- new perspectives, new wrinkles, and a newfound ability to say “it is what it is” with conviction. After all, not everyone gets to experience personal growth and fuel scarcity at the same time.
So, the next time you find yourself trapped in a Mohakhali fuel queue, take full advantage of the opportunity. The queue is no longer just a line of frustrated people; it is a playground, a concert hall, a vlogging studio, and occasionally, a university of patience. Whether you rent your spot, unearth the influencer within you, nap like royalty, or become Benjamin Button, make sure you make the most of it.
