Bangladesh eyes more fuel from India amid Middle East volatility
Bangladesh has sought more fuel from India to offset a supply shortage triggered by the Middle East conflict.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, who was in New Delhi on an official visit on Wednesday, met with India’s minister of petroleum and natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, and conveyed Dhaka’s request.
Puri said the request would be considered “readily and favorably,” Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Dhaka has also sought higher volumes of fertilizer, Reuters reported.
Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister @HardeepSPuri met Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman.The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, with both sides discussing key areas of collaboration.Follow the complete story on #PBSHABD. Register… https://t.co/amkMSQFKmf
— PB-SHABD (@PBSHABD) April 8, 2026
Bangladesh relies on imports for about 95% of its energy requirements for its 175 million people. India is expected to supply 180,000 tonnes of diesel to its neighbor each year.
Rahman also met with his Indian counterpart, S.Jaishankar, and Commerce Minister Piyush Goel.
The visit comes as Bangladesh’s new dispensation is seeking to build a fresh chapter in its bilateral relationship with India.
It is the first high-level visit from Bangladesh since Tarique Rahman was sworn in as prime minister in February.
The Bangladeshi side also reiterated its request to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who have been handed the death penalty, to Bangladesh, the PTI news agency reported.
The two sides agreed that Hasina’s stay in India should not be allowed to impede ties between the two countries, according to the report.
Bilateral ties, which became strained after Hasina fled to India following an uprising in 2024, have been on the mend since Rahman assumed power in February.
