Bangladesh's Diesel Supply from India Starts

Dhaka: Bangladesh has initiated the import of diesel from India, with an initial delivery of 5,000 tonnes expected to arrive by Wednesday, as officials express concerns over a potential fuel shortage linked to the ongoing crisis in West Asia.

According to a spokesperson from the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), diesel began arriving at the Parbatipur depot in Dinajpur from Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Assam on Monday afternoon via the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline.

The process of pumping the 5,000 tonnes of diesel is anticipated to take around 45 hours, suggesting that operations may extend into Wednesday evening.

The spokesperson noted, "We are currently pumping approximately 113 tonnes of diesel each hour."

Previously, Bangladesh announced that India would supply 5,000 tonnes of diesel as part of a long-term agreement, which includes an annual commitment to deliver 180,000 tonnes.

This supply commenced shortly after Indian High Commissioner Pranay Kumar Verma indicated that New Delhi was considering Bangladesh's request for additional diesel to bolster its fuel reserves amid ongoing energy supply challenges.

"Bangladesh is a significant ally of India, and we aim to provide all necessary support for its development," he stated when questioned about India's response to Dhaka's request for more diesel.

The envoy mentioned that India is "positively reviewing the request."

The Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline, which spans approximately 131 kilometers, connects the Siliguri Marketing Terminal in India to the Parbatipur Depot in Dinajpur, facilitating direct diesel transport. This pipeline was inaugurated in March 2023 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Officials report that the pipeline can transport around 200,000 tonnes of diesel annually, significantly reducing both transportation time and costs. Previously, Bangladesh imported diesel from Numaligarh Refinery via railway wagons.

Under the existing agreement, India is set to supply Bangladesh with 180,000 tonnes of diesel each year through this pipeline, with plans to deliver 120,000 tonnes in 2026.

During a recent meeting between Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Verma, discussions included a proposal for an additional 50,000 tonnes of diesel to be supplied over the next four months via the pipeline.

On Monday, the Indian envoy met again with Chowdhury and Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, who expressed interest in receiving supplies from the existing optional quantity of 60,000 tonnes under the agreement.

This development comes as officials have indicated that Bangladesh is actively seeking to increase fuel imports from various alternative sources to tackle the ongoing energy supply crisis.

Junior Foreign Minister Shama Obaed Islam stated on Monday that Dhaka anticipates cooperation from India on several bilateral matters, especially since India has expressed a desire to strengthen ties with Bangladesh following the new government's formation.

"We need diesel, we need water from them... Let's see how they respond to our requests," she remarked.

According to data from the energy ministry, India supplied Bangladesh with 35,718 tonnes of diesel in 2023, 28,204 tonnes in 2024, and 124,216 tonnes in 2025.

Bangladesh has also imported jet fuel, furnace oil, and octane from India at various times.

Diesel constitutes approximately 65 to 70 percent of the total fuel demand in Bangladesh, which relies on imports for nearly 95 percent of its oil and gas requirements.

In light of the situation, Bangladesh urged citizens to limit "unnecessary travel" as panic buying surged at filling stations in the capital due to the conflict in West Asia.