US Grants Bangladesh 60-Day Exemption to Import Russian Energy

Amid severe volatility in the global energy market, the United States has granted Bangladesh a crucial 60-day exemption from international sanctions, allowing Dhaka to procure Russian energy supplies.

The decision, formally communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the US State Department on April 11, comes in direct response to an urgent appeal from the Bangladesh government.

According to sources within the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), the waiver is already active and will remain in effect until June 9.

A Desperate Diplomatic Plea

The exemption is the result of intense lobbying. On March 30, the Energy Division dispatched a formal letter to the US government requesting a temporary waiver.

The correspondence bluntly outlined the severe challenges Dhaka faces in sourcing fuel from traditional Middle Eastern suppliers due to unprecedented price hikes in the global market. The letter argued that, given the current crisis, Russia has emerged as a highly “reliable alternative” due to the ready availability of its energy resources and swift delivery capabilities.

The Failed Predecessor

This new 60-day window follows a fundamentally flawed earlier attempt at relief.

Previously, the US Treasury Department issued a 30-day waiver regarding Russian crude and petroleum transactions that expired on April 11. However, that license was strictly limited to cargo loaded onto vessels on or before March 12. The provision was designed solely to allow shipments already in transit to be unloaded.

That initial waiver yielded absolutely zero benefit for Bangladesh, as no Russian oil tankers were en route to the country’s ports during that specific timeframe.

High-Stakes Backchanneling

The current, more functional exemption follows a series of high-level diplomatic engagements between Dhaka and Washington.

The breakthrough stems from a critical virtual summit held on March 18, which included heavyweights from the US Treasury Department, the US State Department, the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, the US Embassy in Dhaka, and top officials from Bangladesh’s Energy Division. Following those negotiations, the BPC formally briefed the Foreign Ministry on March 20, paving the way for the successful waiver application.