Amid ongoing turmoil in West Asia and the Gulf region, which has led to a global fuel crisis, India has acknowledged receiving a request from Bangladesh for diesel supply. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed this during a press briefing on Thursday, indicating that the matter is currently under evaluation by the Indian government. In addition to Bangladesh, other neighboring countries such as Maldives and Sri Lanka have also reached out to India for similar assistance.

India’s Role in Regional Energy Supply

During the press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiwal emphasized India’s significant role as a key exporter of refined petroleum products within the region. He stated, “India has received a request from the government of Bangladesh for the supply of diesel, which is being examined.” This reaffirms India’s commitment to a development-oriented approach to its relationships with neighboring nations.

Jaiwal highlighted that India has been supplying diesel to Bangladesh since 2017, utilizing various transportation methods, including waterways, rail, and the India-Bangladesh friendship pipeline. A sale-purchase agreement was formalized in October 2017 between the Numaligarh refinery and the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, establishing the terms for high-speed diesel supply. The spokesperson noted that while diesel exports to Bangladesh have largely been uninterrupted since the agreement, factors such as India’s refining capacity and domestic needs will be considered in any decisions made regarding future supplies.

The MEA spokesperson also mentioned that requests from several other countries, including Maldives and Sri Lanka, are under consideration. These requests are evaluated in light of India’s own energy requirements and resource availability. The ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel, and its implications for Iranian tensions, have severely affected global energy supplies, underscoring the need for coordinated response measures.

Recent Diesel Shipments to Bangladesh

On March 27, a senior official from the Bangladeshi government reported that India had recently supplied an additional shipment of 5,000 tons of diesel. According to Md. Murshed Hossain Azad, General Manager (Commercial) of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, Bangladesh has received a total of 15,000 tons of diesel from India in recent deliveries. He further stated that an additional 6,000 tons is scheduled for delivery on March 28.

Azad mentioned that India has proposed supplying 40,000 tons of diesel to Bangladesh in April, a proposal that has been officially accepted by the Bangladeshi authorities. However, no further details regarding the arrangements have been disclosed. This development highlights the evolving dynamics of energy trade in the region as countries seek to navigate the challenges posed by the global fuel crisis.

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