Bangladesh has asked the United States (US) for temporary permission to import Russian crude as the government explores cheaper supply options amid rising uncertainty in global energy markets.
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury disclosed the request after a meeting with US Ambassador Brent T Christensen at his office in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The request follows Washington’s recent decision to relax sanctions enforcement to allow India to receive Russian oil cargoes stranded at sea after tensions escalated in the Middle East.
Bangladesh has asked the US to consider granting a similar temporary waiver.
“We told them that if Bangladesh is given such an opportunity, it would provide significant support to our economy,” said Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
“They said the matter would be conveyed to Washington. Now we have to wait and see what happens,” he added.
The talks also focused on volatility in global energy markets, particularly oil and gas supply risks linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Both sides discussed expanding trade, investment and broader economic cooperation between Bangladesh and the US.
The meeting also reviewed possible technical cooperation and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening the capacity of government institutions.
Responding to a question about a possible trade agreement with the US, Amir Khosru said no specific decision has been taken.
“A trade agreement is a bilateral matter. It is not possible for us to make any specific comment at this stage,” he said.
He said the government is assessing how Bangladesh’s interests could be best protected if such discussions move forward.
Asked about the government’s contingency planning if the global conflict persists, Amir Khosru said authorities are preparing for several possible scenarios.
“We are planning for different situations — whether the conflict is short-term, medium-term, or prolonged,” he said.
“Today’s discussion also covered these issues in detail,” he added.
