Dhaka: The government has imported 2,200 MT of diesel from India aimed at meeting the demand in the northern region of the country.

‘We received 2,200 MT of diesel through Bangladesh Railway at Parbatipur in Dinajpur from India’s Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) as a ‘goodwill gesture’ to meet the demand of country’s northern region,’ BSS quoted Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Bir Bikram, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, as saying.

Addressing the ceremony of receiving diesel from India at Parbatipur, Dinajpur, on Saturday, he said the Indian government sent the diesel to Bangladesh in 42 wagons of Indian Railway, which reached Parbatipur oil depot in Dinajpur.

‘The government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has signed an agreement with Indian government to import diesel to meet crisis in the northern part of the country,’ Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi said.

As special guest, State minister for Power, Energy and Mineral resources Nasrul Hamid said Bangladesh and India agreed to construct pipeline for supplying fuel.

‘The construction of pipeline from Siliguri of West Bengal in India to Parbatipur oil depot of Dinajpur in Bangladesh would start soon and it would be completed by next 3 years,’ he said.

The function was chaired by Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) chairman M Mahmood Reza. The High Commissioner of India in Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla attended as the guest of honour.

Among others, officials from the ministry, Indian High Commission, BPC and local Awami League leaders were present at the function.

The diesel loaded wagons of Indian Railway reached Parbatipur oil depot in Dinajpur via Malda in West Bengal, covering a distance of 150 kilometres.