India receives Bangladesh’s request for additional fuel: Pranay Verma

Bangladesh has sought additional fuel supply from India to address a possible energy crisis caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East. Pranay Verma, the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, said he has received an official letter from the Bangladeshi government regarding the request.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku at the Secretariat on Wednesday, he said the letter would be sent to the relevant authorities in India for prompt consideration.

The high commissioner noted that cooperation between the two countries in the power and energy sector already stands on a strong foundation. The meeting also discussed ways to further expand mutual cooperation and shared interests.

After the outbreak of war involving Iran, concerns have emerged over possible disruptions to fuel imports from the Middle East. As a result, Bangladesh is exploring alternative sources, including India and China, to meet its diesel demand.

As part of this effort, Bangladesh has taken steps to import a larger quantity of diesel than stipulated in the existing agreement. Diesel shipments of about 5,000 tonnes have already begun from the Numaligarh Refinery Limited in Assam.

The diesel will reach the Parbatipur depot in Dinajpur through the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline. The approximately 131-kilometre pipeline was launched in March 2023.

Under the agreement, India will supply 180,000 tonnes of diesel annually. For 2026, the supply schedule includes 120,000 tonnes, which can be increased by another 60,000 tonnes if necessary.