India on Bangladesh Fuel Crisis: Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Bangladesh is facing a worsening fuel crisis, prompting India to step in with emergency assistance. To help stabilize the situation, India will supply 5,000 metric tons of diesel to Bangladesh through a cross-border pipeline, ensuring a steady and quick flow of fuel to the neighboring country.
The supply is being made under an existing bilateral agreement between the two countries, which allows India to provide petroleum products to Bangladesh when required. This arrangement has become particularly important at a time when global energy markets are under pressure due to geopolitical uncertainties.
Confirming the development, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Chairman Mohammad Rezanur Rahman told news agency ANI that India has agreed to send 5,000 metric tons of diesel via the pipeline to help address the immediate shortage. According to officials, the move is expected to ease pressure on Bangladesh’s fuel supply and support the country’s energy needs in the short term.
The decision also highlights the growing energy cooperation between India and Bangladesh, with cross-border infrastructure like pipelines playing a crucial role in ensuring fuel security during times of crisis.
India will supply 1,80,000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh
It’s worth noting that, according to the agreement, India will supply Bangladesh with 180,000 tons of diesel annually through the pipeline. Mohammad Rezanur Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), stated that the current shipment is part of this agreement. He added that, according to the agreement, Bangladesh will be required to import at least 90,000 tons of diesel from India within six months.
India on Bangladesh Fuel Crisis: Crackdown on hoarding amid fuel crisis
Bangladesh relies significantly on India to meet a portion of its energy requirements, particularly when it comes to the supply of petroleum products. Under the India–Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline Agreement, India regularly supplies diesel to Bangladesh through a cross-border pipeline. As part of this arrangement, around 180,000 tonnes of diesel are supplied annually, helping Bangladesh maintain a stable fuel supply.
According to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Chairman Mohammad Rezanur Rahman, the latest shipment arriving through the pipeline amounts to 5,000 tonnes of diesel. He also stated that Bangladesh plans to import its entire six-month diesel requirement through the pipeline within the next two months, ensuring adequate fuel reserves and reducing the risk of shortages.
The fresh supply is particularly significant at a time when concerns are growing in Bangladesh about illegal hoarding and market manipulation in the fuel sector. Authorities have raised alarms that certain traders may be stockpiling diesel illegally, which can create an artificial shortage in the market and push prices higher.
Several reports have indicated that such unlawful hoarding practices by some traders are disrupting the normal supply chain, adding pressure to an already sensitive fuel situation. In this context, the continued diesel supply from India through the pipeline is expected to ease market pressure, stabilize availability, and support Bangladesh’s energy security in the short term.
Petrol pumps raided through ‘mobile court’
Amid reports of fuel shortages, hoarding and black marketing have begun in Bangladesh, prompting the government to take strict measures to combat this. The Energy Ministry found that some traders were hiding diesel to create an artificial shortage. Several petrol pumps in the capital, Dhaka, were raided by a “mobile court.” Many pumps, like the City Filling Station in Tejgaon, have been closed since yesterday due to fuel shortages, while others were found violating regulations. The government has now set limits on fuel sales based on vehicle categories to ensure proper distribution of available stock.
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