Intro:
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that India has received a request from the Bangladesh government for the supply of diesel and that the proposal is currently under review.
New Delhi
Speaking at a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasised that India is a major exporter of refined petroleum products, particularly to neighbouring countries. He said that the government has received a formal request from Bangladesh seeking diesel supply and that the matter is being examined by the concerned authorities.
Jaiswal noted that India has maintained long-standing energy cooperation with Bangladesh. Since 2007, India has been supplying diesel from the Numaligarh Refinery through multiple channels, including waterways and rail transport. Later, the supply was also facilitated through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, further strengthening energy connectivity between the two countries.
He also highlighted that a sale and purchase agreement was signed in October 2017 between Numaligarh Refinery Limited and the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation. The agreement allows the supply of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh on mutually agreed commercial terms.
According to the MEA, diesel exports to Bangladesh have largely continued since the signing of the agreement. However, Jaiswal clarified that decisions regarding additional supplies will be made after taking into account India’s domestic refining capacity, internal fuel requirements and the availability of diesel.
The MEA spokesperson further said that Bangladesh is not the only country seeking fuel assistance from India. Similar requests have also been received from other neighbouring nations, including Sri Lanka and the Maldives. These requests are also under examination while keeping India’s domestic energy needs in mind.
Meanwhile, reports from Bangladesh indicate that the ongoing conflict in West Asia is beginning to affect fuel markets in the region. A recent report in Bangladesh’s leading newspaper, The Daily Star, said that fuel stations in cities such as Dhaka and Chattogram witnessed long queues as motorists rushed to purchase fuel amid fears of shortages.
The development highlights growing concerns over global fuel supply disruptions as geopolitical tensions continue to influence energy markets worldwide.
