Bangladesh seeks US waiver to import Russian fuel

Bangla Press Desk:  Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has requested the United States to grant Bangladesh a special waiver to import refined diesel and other petroleum products from Russian sources to ease energy pressures.

The request was made during a meeting with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright at the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, according to a message received in Dhaka on Wednesday.

During the talks, the foreign minister highlighted Bangladesh's ongoing energy challenges stemming from global supply chain disruptions, particularly ahead of the critical planting season, and stressed the need to ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply for farmers and safeguard food security.

Rahman explained that Bangladesh could not take advantage of the earlier limited worldwide waiver by US on Russian oil at sea since none of the tankers was bound for Bangladesh at that time.

Besides, the two sides discussed the options to buy more refined oil out of Russian crude from third countries to meet the immediate need.

US Energy Secretary Wright acknowledged the energy challenges Bangladesh is facing and expressed his country's commitment to support Bangladesh during these difficult times to help ensure its energy security.

He said the US will positively consider the requests of Bangladesh and assured that he and his team would work closely with the relevant departments of the US government to this end.

The two sides also discussed longer-term cooperation for sustainable energy solutions for Bangladesh and the prospects of increasing procurement of US energy products.

Secretary Chris Wright was assisted by Chief of Staff to the Secretary Carl Cole, Senior Advisor to the Secretary Audrey Robertson, Senior Advisor to the Secretary Andrew Rapp, Director, Office of Asian Affairs Margaux Murali and Fellow, Office of Asian Affairs Hamna Khan.

From the Bangladesh side, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Deputy Chief of Mission DM Salahuddin Mahmud and Economic Minister Dr. Md. Fazle Rabbi attended the meeting with the Foreign Minister.