Bangladesh Seeks Increased Diesel Supplies from India Amid Power Crisis

Dhaka: Bangladesh on Thursday requested additional diesel supplies from India to help manage ongoing power and gas shortages as Indian envoy Dinesh Trivedi met a senior minister and exchanged views on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the power and energy sectors.

High Commissioner Trivedi paid a courtesy call on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, the Indian High Commission said.

They "exchanged views on further strengthening India-Bangladesh cooperation in the power and energy sectors," it said in a post on X.

"The discussion focused on the importance of cross-border power and energy connectivity as a key pillar of India-Bangladesh economic partnership," it said.

"Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing cooperation based on mutual interest and mutual benefit, with a view to enhancing energy security, promoting sustainable development, and supporting the prosperity of the people of both countries," it added.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mahmood admitted that the diesel shortage directly impacted gas-fired power generation, triggering widespread load-shedding.

"We have a pipeline with India through which diesel is supplied. We have asked them to provide more," he told reporters.

The energy minister said the additional diesel supplies from India through the existing cross-border pipeline were required to help manage Bangladesh's ongoing power and gas shortages.

"India is our neighbouring country, so we have many areas of mutual interest, and those issues were discussed," he added.

Bangladesh received around 30,000 tonnes of diesel through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline in March and April.

The diesel supply through the pipeline was halted during the interim regime led by Muhammad Yunus.