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Published : 11 Mar 2026, 08:56 PM
Bangladeshi authorities have written to India requesting additional fuel as it faces potential energy shortages amid the Middle East conflict.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku at the Secretariat on Wednesday, Verma confirmed receiving the request from the Bangladesh government.
“As regards your specific question, yes, I have just received a formal request from the government of Bangladesh about additional supply,” he said. “I will be forwarding it to our authorities for consideration.”
The envoy described the meeting with the minister as productive, saying discussions focused on cooperation and shared interests in the energy sector.
“Very good meeting with the honourable minister for power, energy and mineral resources. We discussed areas of cooperation and common interest, and how to move our cooperation forward,” Verma said.
He noted that India and Bangladesh already maintain strong energy connectivity.
“As you are aware, India and Bangladesh have strong power and energy connectivity. Energy and power connectivity is an important aspect of our economic cooperation,” he said.
Verma added that the two countries already have cross-border power transmission lines and pipelines connecting their energy networks.
“So, we discussed our engagement and how to strengthen our energy and power cooperation,” he said.
On Sunday, the Indian high commissioner also met Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury at the Secretariat, where they discussed a proposal to supply an additional 50,000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh over the next four months through the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline.
Meanwhile, diesel shipments from India’s Numaligarh Refinery in Assam have already begun, with 5,000 tonnes being pumped to Bangladesh through the pipeline, according to officials of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation.
The Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline runs about 131km from the Siliguri Marketing Terminal in India to the depot at Parbatipur in Dinajpur.
It was inaugurated in March 2023.
Although the pipeline has an annual transport capacity of about 200,000 tonnes, the bilateral agreement provides for the supply of 180,000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh each year.
The schedule for 2026 includes the delivery of 120,000 tonnes.
With the conflict situation in the Middle East disrupting fuel imports, Bangladesh has been exploring multiple sources, including India and China, to ensure stable diesel supplies.
