Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are both seeking US sanctions waivers to import Russian fuel as the Iran war drives a severe energy crisis across South Asia, but with the current waiver window set to expire on April 11, time is running out.
Bangladesh’s formal request
Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman formally requested the United States to grant a sanctions waiver during a meeting with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright in Washington on April 1. Dhaka is seeking up to 600,000 metric tonnes of Russian diesel — roughly two months of national demand.
“The letter was submitted… we are now awaiting a response,” said joint secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury. Bangladesh, a nation of 175 million that imports approximately 95% of its energy, is simultaneously diversifying supply from India, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Angola, and Australia.
Sri Lanka’s position
Sri Lanka has been referenced alongside Bangladesh as seeking similar waiver access. The US Treasury issued a 30-day temporary waiver — running from March 12 to April 11 — allowing countries to purchase Russian oil stranded at sea. However, no US response has been provided to either country’s formal requests.
Even if the waiver is extended, Sri Lanka is unlikely to secure Russian oil quickly due to unresolved logistical arrangements, according to Daily Mirror reporting.
Shrinking window
The April 11 expiry is now six days away. India has already benefited from similar arrangements — its Russian crude imports reportedly jumped 90% in March after receiving a US waiver.
The waiver scramble underscores the deepening energy crisis facing Sri Lanka, where Brent crude prices above $110 per barrel threaten to push the annual fuel import bill to $4.5–5 billion. Iran has separately offered direct oil supply to Sri Lanka, but that lifeline faces its own risks as the US-Iran military confrontation escalates.
