New Delhi: Bangladesh has sought increased fuel supplies from India amid a tightening global energy market, underscoring New Delhi’s growing role as a key regional energy provider.

During a meeting in the capital, Bangladesh foreign minister Khalilur Rahman requested petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri to enhance diesel and fertilizer supplies to Dhaka, citing ongoing global supply constraints.

Rahman thanked India for recent fuel assistance and urged an expansion in volumes.

In response, Puri indicated that the Indian government would consider the request “readily and favourably,” signalling continued energy cooperation between the two neighbours.

The discussions come as India already supplies diesel to Bangladesh through the 131-km India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, the first cross-border energy link between the two countries, operational since 2022.

The pipeline currently delivers around 100,000 tonnes of diesel annually, primarily catering to northern Bangladesh.

Last month, India supplied an additional 5,000 tonnes of diesel through the pipeline, highlighting the growing dependence of Bangladesh on Indian energy exports.

Beyond diesel, Bangladesh has also sought increased fertilizer supplies, a critical input for its agriculture sector, as global disruptions continue to strain availability and pricing.

India, the world’s fourth-largest oil refiner with a capacity of 258 million tonnes, has increasingly emerged as an energy lifeline for neighbouring countries.

Officials note that multiple nations in the region, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives, have approached New Delhi for petroleum supplies amid volatility triggered by geopolitical tensions, particularly in West Asia.

There are also ongoing discussions on expanding exports to Bangladesh to include high-sulphur fuel oil and furnace oil, further deepening bilateral energy ties.

The latest request from Dhaka reinforces India’s strategic position as a regional energy hub at a time when global supply chains remain under pressure.