In a critical move to stabilize neighboring energy supplies, India delivered 5,000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. The fuel was transported through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFPL), entering the country via the Parbatipur border crossing.
Muhammad Rezanur Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), confirmed the shipment is part of a long-term bilateral agreement. Under this deal, India is committed to supplying 180,000 tonnes of diesel annually. Rahman noted that the goal is to import at least 90,000 tonnes within the first half of the year, with the remaining balance for the six-month period expected to arrive over the next two months.
Crisis Context: Rationing and Closures
The shipment arrives as Bangladesh grapples with an acute energy shortage triggered by the US-Israel-Iran conflict in West Asia, which has disrupted global oil and LNG flows.
- Fuel Rationing: The government has imposed strict daily limits on fuel purchases. Private cars are limited to 10 litres of petrol/octane per day, while motorcycles are capped at 2 litres.
- University Closures: In an unprecedented move, the government has shut down all public and private universities to conserve electricity, identifying campuses as heavy energy consumers.
- LNG Force Majeure: Qatar and other key suppliers have invoked force majeure on LNG deliveries, further crippling the power grid and forcing the closure of five out of six state-run fertilizer factories.
Crackdown on Hoarding
To combat the crisis, Bangladesh has deployed mobile courts led by executive magistrates across Dhaka and other major cities. These drives aim to prevent “unscrupulous traders” from creating artificial shortages through illegal stockpiling or selling fuel above government-mandated prices. While some stations, like Clean Fuel in Tejgaon, were found in compliance, others like City Filling Station have reportedly run dry while awaiting new supplies from India.