Sri Lanka, March 30 -- Bangladesh has approached the U.S. seeking a temporary sanctions waiver to allow import of Russian diesel, officials said on Monday, as Middle East turmoil disrupts global energy markets and strains fuel supplies.

Dhaka has requested a waiver similar to the one granted to India, proposing imports of up to 600,000 metric tons of Russian diesel, energy ministry officials said.

"The letter was submitted ... we are now awaiting a response," said Monir Hossain Chowdhury, a joint secretary at the Energy and Mineral Resources Department.

The nation of 175 million relies on imports for about 95 per cent of its energy needs, and state-run agencies have increasingly turned to the volatile market to plug the gap. The govern...