Staff Reporter:

There is currently no fuel crisis in Bangladesh despite the global crunch due to the Middle East war, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on March 30.

She made the remarks during the question-and-answer session of today’s Parliamentary session, while responding to a question from Dhaka-14 lawmaker Mir Ahmad Bin Kashem.

Her statement triggered protests from opposition members in parliament. The situation later calmed after an appeal from Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal.

The state minister said the government is working to ensure fuel supply from multiple sources. She noted that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has held several meetings with relevant ministries to diversify energy imports beyond the Middle East.

She also said that following the war in the Middle East, the government’s priority has been ensuring the safety of Bangladeshi nationals living in the region. Bangladesh missions abroad are working diligently in this regard.

“Unfortunately, five Bangladeshis have died in the war. Among them, we have successfully repatriated the bodies of two,” she said.

The state minister added that 186 Bangladeshis have been safely brought back home from Tehran, Iran, on chartered flights.

She emphasised that ensuring the safety of Bangladeshi citizens abroad remains the government’s top priority.