Bangladesh Requests Additional Fuel Supply from India Amid Global Shortage

India recently supplied Bangladesh with an initial 5,000 metric tons of diesel through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, marking the start of deliveries under the annual allocation for 2026. This shipment from India's Numaligarh Refinery in Assam reached the Parbatipur depot in northern Bangladesh after transit from the Siliguri terminal in West Bengal.
The supply forms part of a long-term 15-year agreement signed in 2017, allowing Bangladesh to import up to 180,000 metric tons of low-sulfur diesel each year at a cost of about 14.62 billion taka, or roughly $119 million. Pricing ties to international benchmarks plus a fixed premium, providing stability amid global oil volatility. The pipeline, operational since late 2022 and inaugurated in 2023 with Indian grant support for the Bangladeshi section, spans about 131.5 kilometers. It replaces slower rail transport, cutting costs, time, and emissions while ensuring reliable fuel for power, transport, agriculture, and industry in northern districts. Bangladesh has requested an additional 50,000 metric tons over the next four months, which India is reviewing positively. This cooperation persists despite diplomatic strains following political changes in Dhaka, including border issues and paused other projects, underscoring pragmatic energy ties that benefit both nations by enhancing supply security and regional connectivity.