DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT

Dhaka has requested Riyadh to supply crude or refined oil from Saudi public oil company Aramco on a deferred payment basis.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen made the request when Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan paid a courtesy call on him at the ministry yesterday.

A statement issued by the foreign ministry said, “Reflecting on the current political instability in parts of Europe, the foreign minister urged the [Saudi] envoy to explore possible cooperation from Saudi Arabia in meeting Bangladesh’s domestic energy and oil needs and take up the issue of considering [providing] crude/refined oil from Aramco on a deferred payment basis.”

The Saudi envoy assured the minister of taking up the proposal with the authorities concerned in the Kingdom.

The issue of importing oil from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA),a major source of Bangladesh’s oil, at a deferred payment comes when Bangladesh’s foreign reserve has dropped to a little over $32 billion as of January 26.

The International Monetary Fund recently approved a $4.7 billion loan to support Bangladesh’s economy that, like many other countries, has been facing strains stemming mostly from the Russia-Ukraine war.

He handed over a letter to the minister from Saudi

SEE PAGE 6 COL 1