60-day fresh waiver for Russian fuel imports offers Bangladesh breathing space

A fresh sanctions waiver from the United States has granted Bangladesh a narrow but critical window to stabilise its fuel supplies, as global energy markets continue to be buffeted by geopolitical shocks and maritime disruptions.
Foreign Ministry officials in Dhaka confirmed on Friday that Washington has issued a 60-day exemption, effective from 11 April to 9 June. The move allows Bangladesh to import refined petroleum products from Russia despite the broader sanctions regime linked to the conflict in Ukraine.
This diplomatic breakthrough comes at a time when the nation’s energy infrastructure is under palpable strain.
Crucially, this new waiver differs from a 30-day licence issued by the US Treasury in March, which only applied to shipments already at sea. Officials at the Energy and Mineral Resources Division noted that the previous arrangement was largely symbolic as no Russian cargoes were then en route.
“This time, we can actually place orders,” a senior official at the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources told the Daily Sun.
The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) is now moving to procure an initial 100,000 tonnes of diesel. This forms part of a more ambitious strategy to source up to one million tonnes from Russia via a US-based intermediary to ensure full regulatory compliance.

Navigating supply volatility
The urgency is compounded by volatility in the Middle East. 
Shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz have faced heightened risks since late February, leading suppliers such as Saudi Aramco and ADNOC to cancel or delay crude shipments under “force majeure”.
Consequently, the nation’s sole refinery, Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL), is operating at a reduced ebb. Two of its four units are currently undergoing maintenance, while the remainder are running on low feed due to crude shortages.
However, the government has been quick to downplay fears of a shortage. Monir Hossain Chowdhury, joint secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, insisted that increased imports of refined fuel would plug the gap.
“Even though ERL is running on low feed... there will be no adverse impact on the fuel supply chain,” he told reporters. Current reserves stand at over 101,000 tonnes of diesel, 18,211 tonnes of petrol, and 32,000 tonnes of octane – enough to cover approximately two months of demand.
Authorities have also cracked down on domestic hoarding. Between late March and mid-April, more than 9,100 drives resulted in the recovery of 542,000 litres of illegally stored fuel.

Ramping up imports
To reinforce the grid, a massive shipment of 109,000 tonnes of diesel and 27,000 tonnes of octane – the largest since the crisis began – arrived at Chattogram Port on 17 April.
Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Managing Partner of Pride Shipping, explained that due to the vessels’ size, ship-to-ship transfers using smaller mother vessels are being utilised at the outer anchorage before the fuel is brought to the Dolphin Jetty. Meanwhile, supply from the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline is providing further redundancy. 
On Thursday, the Parbatipur Padma Oil depot began receiving an additional 5,000 tonnes of diesel from India’s Numaligarh Refinery. 
Total imports through the pipeline for March and April are expected to reach 55,000 tonnes.

The expert verdict
While the immediate pressure has eased, analysts warn against complacency. 
Energy expert Dr Ijaz Hossain described the US waiver as “tactical relief rather than a structural solution.”
Speaking to the Daily Sun, he said, “Bangladesh is navigating between sanctions compliance and energy security. This waiver buys time, but it also highlights how exposed the country remains to external shocks – whether geopolitical or market-driven.”
Dr Ijaz urged the government to prioritise the diversification of supply sources and long-term investment in refining infrastructure to mitigate future vulnerabilities.