5,000 tonnes of diesel reach Parbatipur via India-Bangladesh pipeline

Bangladesh has received 5,000 tonnes of diesel from India between Monday and Tuesday through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, officials at the Parbatipur railhead depot in Dinajpur confirmed yesterday.

It was the second consignment this year under a 15‑year bilateral agreement.

Depot chief Ahsan Habib said Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has requested an additional 50,000 tonnes this year from India to meet demand amid global supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.

“Due to the global situation, some imbalance has been created in the supply system. Petrol pumps are being supplied limited amounts to prevent stockpiling,” he said.

The depot currently has about 4.5 million litres of fuel. BPC regularly imports refined petroleum from Numaligarh Refinery Limited through the pipeline, which has operated since 2023.

Under the agreement, Bangladesh is entitled to import 250,000 tonnes annually in the first three years, rising to 400,000 tonnes by the 11th year.

Imports stood at 70,055 tonnes in 2024 and rose to 122,000 tonnes in 2025, about 3 percent of total diesel imports, BPC data show.

The 131.5‑km pipeline, with 5 km inside India and 126.5 km in Bangladesh, can transport up to one million tonnes a year, taking two to three days for fuel to reach Parbatipur from the refinery in Assam.