Bangladesh to Continue Diesel Imports from India Amid Border Tensions
Bangladesh has decided to proceed with its diesel imports from India, reaffirming energy trade ties despite recent border tensions. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) announced that 130,000 metric tonnes of diesel will be imported from India’s Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) throughout 2025.
The import arrangement, approved in a recent BPC board meeting, will cost approximately Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) 1,137 crore. Deliveries are scheduled to be made between January and December 2025. This agreement highlights the enduring energy cooperation between the two neighboring nations, even amidst geopolitical challenges.
Since January 2016, BPC has relied on NRL for refined fuel oil imports, with transportation predominantly carried out via rail. For 2025, Bangladesh’s total refined fuel oil demand is projected to reach 7.4 million metric tonnes, with diesel comprising 4.6 million tonnes of this requirement. Nearly 80% of the diesel demand is met through direct imports, while the remaining portion is supplied by local refineries.
The continued import of diesel from India is critical to meeting Bangladesh’s energy needs and supporting its growing economic activities. The arrangement underscores the resilience of bilateral trade relations and the prioritization of practical cooperation over political differences.
