In the midst of the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict, which has caused significant global energy strain, India has begun sending 5,000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh via the cross-border Friendship Pipeline. This move is part of an annual supply agreement in which India is committed to providing 180,000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh each year. The first consignment arrived on Tuesday, marking the beginning of a five-year plan to address Bangladesh's worsening fuel shortage.
Bangladesh has been facing a severe fuel crisis due to disruptions in global oil supplies, particularly from the Middle East, exacerbated by the war. With the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy corridor, blofcked, Bangladesh's imports of fuel—95% of which comes from the Middle East have been severely impacted. This has led to fuel rationing, long queues at gas stations, and public anxiety.
The diesel supply from India will help alleviate some of the immediate pressure on Bangladesh’s energy infrastructure. The diesel is being transported through the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline, which links India’s Numaligarh refinery in Assam to Bangladesh’s Parbatipur depot. This pipeline, inaugurated in March 2023, provides a more cost-effective and timely means of delivery compared to previous rail-based shipments.
The delivery of 5,000 tonnes is the first step in a larger plan to send 90,000 tonnes of diesel over the next six months, aiming to stabilize the country’s energy supply. The supply also represents a sign of improving bilateral energy ties between India and Bangladesh after a period of strain following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024. With the return of the BNP government under Tarique Rahman, energy relations between the two nations appear to be stabilizing, with India continuing to play a vital role in meeting Bangladesh’s energy needs. This ongoing cooperation underscores India’s position as Bangladesh's closest and most reliable energy partner, and with the strategic infrastructure in place, both countries are working to strengthen their ties amid the challenges posed by global energy uncertainties.
