Labonnya Liza; Desk Report From Local Correspondent– In a major boost to the fuel supply of northern Bangladesh, the third consignment of diesel for this month has arrived from India via the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline.

Approximately 7,000 tons of diesel reached the Receipt Terminal at the Parbatipur Railhead Oil Depot in Dinajpur today.

The Shipment Details

Kazi Rabiul Alam, Manager (Operations) of Meghna Petroleum Limited, confirmed the arrival at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 23. The pumping process from the Numaligarh Refinery in India began on the night of April 20, taking roughly 65 to 70 hours to complete the 131.57 km journey through the underground pipeline.

Supply Statistics for April

This marks a steady increase in fuel imports this month:

• April 11: 8,000 tons arrived.

• April 19: 5,000 tons arrived.

• Today (April 23): 7,000 tons arrived.

• Monthly Goal: A total of 25,000 tons is expected this month across four consignments.

So far in 2026, Bangladesh has imported 35,000 tons of diesel through this pipeline.

Why This Pipeline Matters

Historically, supplying fuel to the northern districts was a logistical challenge. Transporting oil from Khulna or Chattogram via rail wagons used to take 6 to 7 days. Now, the pipeline ensures a steady supply in just a few days, significantly reducing costs and time.

Under the 15-year agreement, India will supply between 2 to 3 lakh tons of diesel annually, with the capacity to scale up to 10 lakh tons based on demand.

The imported diesel is distributed among the three major national oil companies: Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna, ensuring that farmers and businesses in the northern region have uninterrupted access to energy.