Dhaka, April 23 (V7N): Bangladesh is set to receive a third consignment of 7,000 tonnes of diesel from India this month through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, as part of ongoing efforts to ensure a stable fuel supply across the country.

If all goes as planned, the diesel shipment is expected to arrived at the Parbatipur Railhead Oil Depot in Dinajpur by 10:00 am on Thursday (April 23), officials said.

Kazi Robiul Alam, Manager (Operations) of Meghna Petroleum Limited, confirmed that pumping of diesel from the Numaligarh Refinery in Assam, India, began at around 8:00 pm on Monday. The fuel is expected to reach Bangladesh within 65 to 70 hours.

Earlier this month, 8,000 tonnes of diesel arrived on April 11, followed by another 5,000 tonnes on April 19 through the same pipeline. With the latest shipment, a total of 13,000 tonnes has already been delivered in April, while four consignments totaling 25,000 tonnes are expected by the end of the month.

Until March this year, Bangladesh received 22,000 tonnes of diesel in four consignments via the pipeline. Overall, 35,000 tonnes have been imported so far in 2026, which are being distributed among Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna oil companies.

The pipeline plays a crucial role in ensuring uninterrupted diesel supply to the northern regions of Bangladesh, significantly reducing transportation time compared to the previous system. Earlier, it took six to seven days to transport fuel from Khulna and Chattogram by rail wagons.

The 131.57-kilometer underground pipeline project began following a bilateral agreement signed on September 18, 2018. Official fuel import operations through the pipeline commenced on March 18, 2023.

Under the agreement, India will supply diesel to Bangladesh for 15 years, with an annual import capacity ranging between 200,000 and 300,000 tonnes. The volume may be increased in the future based on demand, usage, and cost considerations.

END/SMA/AJ/