Bangladesh secures Iranian approval for fuel ships passage
Dhaka's diplomatic push pays off, but energy crisis deepens as most shipments remain on hold
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh has secured a key diplomatic victory, with Iran approving safe passage for six Bangladeshi fuel ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical step as the country races to prevent a worsening energy shortage.
Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi made the announcement at a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday, confirming that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council had cleared the vessels following a formal request by the Bangladesh government. The ambassador praised the bilateral relationship, calling Bangladesh a “brotherly nation” and assuring that Iran would provide all necessary assistance.
The six vessels are carrying approximately 500,000 tons of liquefied natural gas and 79,000 tons of crude oil, supplies the country urgently needs as fuel reserves have dropped to less than a month.
Bangladesh imports around 80% of its fuel through the Strait of Hormuz, making the waterway vital to the country’s energy security. Since the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran in late February, traffic through the strait has fallen by nearly 95%, severely disrupting Bangladesh’s fuel supply chain.
However, relief may be further away than it appears. State energy company Petrobangla has confirmed that five of the six approved shipments have already been cancelled by suppliers QatarEnergy and Oman’s OQ Trading, both of which declared force majeure at the outbreak of the conflict. Officials acknowledged that the vessel list forwarded to Tehran was drawn from outdated planning documents.
The Energy Division said it is yet to receive an official letter from Iran, but expressed cautious optimism that the situation is moving forward.
As Dhaka navigates the crisis, the government is also exploring alternative energy sources, including a fresh diesel deal with Kazakhstan and ongoing talks with Washington for waivers to import Russian oil.
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