Finance and planning minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Wednesday said that the government had sought a temporary waiver from the United States to buy fuel oil from Russia amid escalating conflicts in the Gulf region, which accounts for 50 per cent of global energy output.

He sought the waiver when the US ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent T Christensen, paid him a courtesy visit at the planning commission in the capital’s Agargaon area.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, the finance and planning minister said that the US had given India a temporary waiver to buy fuel oil from Russia for a month.

Similar support from the US would greatly benefit Bangladesh’s economy, he said, adding that the ambassador would convey the matter to Washington.

The US imposes sanctions on countries buying Russian oil, citing the protection of its national interests.

The finance and planning minister said that the meeting mainly discussed the uncertainty in the international energy market, particularly regarding oil and gas supply in the wake of escalating conflicts in the Gulf region, especially on the Strait of Hormuz.

The 33-kilometre-wide Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime passage between Iran and Oman that handles one-fifth of global energy trade, has become nearly closed to vessel movement following joint strikes by the US and Israel on Iran and retaliatory measures by Tehran over the past 11 days.

As a net importing country, Bangladesh relies heavily on the strait, directly or indirectly importing around 60 lakh tonnes of fuel oil annually in recent years.

Besides, a substantial part of its imported liquefied natural gas from Qatar and Oman comes via the strait.

Issues related to increasing investment, trade, and economic cooperation between Dhaka and Washington were also discussed at the meeting, said the finance and planning minister.

Capacity building of various government institutions was also discussed, added the minister.

Answering a question about the Bangladesh-US trade agreement signed by the interim government at the fag end of its tenure, the minister said that they were considering how to protect the country’s interests.