Bangladesh is importing 5,000 tons of diesel from India through a cross-border pipeline, with the consignment expected to enter the country through the Parbatipur border on Tuesday. The development comes under a long-term fuel supply agreement between the two neighbouring nations aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s energy security.
According to Muhammad Rezanur Rahman, the diesel shipment forms part of an annual agreement under which India supplies large quantities of fuel to Bangladesh through a dedicated pipeline network.
Speaking to ANI over the phone, Rahman confirmed that the current consignment is part of the scheduled supply under the bilateral deal.
“We have an agreement with India, and according to that agreement, India will supply 180,000 tons of diesel to Bangladesh via the pipeline each year. The 5,000 tons of diesel that is arriving now is a part of that agreement,” he said.
Rahman further explained that the agreement requires at least 90,000 tons of diesel to be imported within a six-month period. The present delivery is only the first part of that commitment, and Bangladesh expects additional shipments soon.
“The consignment arriving today is 5,000 tons, and we hope that within the next two months we will bring in the total diesel amount required for the entire six months,” he added.
The diesel will be supplied through the pipeline connection between India and Bangladesh, which plays a crucial role in ensuring steady fuel availability for the country’s transportation and industrial sectors.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government has intensified monitoring of fuel stocks across the country amid concerns about possible hoarding and illegal trading. Earlier this week, the Bangladesh Energy Ministry said it had launched inspections after reports emerged that some traders were allegedly stockpiling fuel to create an artificial shortage in the market.
“In the current crisis situation, various media outlets have reported that some unscrupulous traders are illegally stockpiling fuel in an attempt to create an artificial shortage in the market,” the ministry said in a statement.
Authorities said the government has already fixed fuel supply limits based on different vehicle categories to ensure fair distribution. However, inspections found that some petrol pumps were allegedly selling fuel beyond the approved limits and storing additional stock to earn excessive profits.
Officials also warned about illegal activities such as fuel smuggling and black-market sales, which can disrupt the country’s energy supply chain.
To curb such practices, the government launched mobile court drives led by executive magistrates in several areas of the capital Dhaka. During inspections, authorities checked fuel stations to ensure compliance with regulations.
According to officials, the City Filling Station in Tejgaon was found dry since the previous day, while another station, Clean Fuel in Tejgaon, was operating according to government rules. Authorities said operations at affected stations would resume once new fuel supplies arrive.
