Bangladesh has sought safe passage from Iran for its vessels carrying energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region. Energy, Power and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said Dhaka had requested Tehran to ensure the secure movement of Bangladeshi ships transporting fuel and energy products through the strategic waterway.

According to the local media, Iqbal Hasan said Bangladesh was expecting a positive response soon from Tehran, though Iran had not yet formally replied to the request as of Thursday. Earlier, Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi assured cooperation during a courtesy call on the minister at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Monday.

Bangladesh, which imports about 6.2 million tonnes of crude and refined petroleum products annually, depends heavily on the route for energy supplies. The country imports crude oil from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and refined petroleum products from countries including China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Meanwhile, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has sought a temporary waiver from the United States to allow Bangladesh to purchase fuel oil from Russia during the crisis.

Amid concerns over supply disruptions, the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation has directed its marketing companies to keep fuel depots open even on weekly and public holidays to ensure uninterrupted fuel distribution across the country.