India, March 11 -- Fuel availability in India is being closely monitored as the country begins supplying diesel to Bangladesh through the cross-border India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, Government sources said on Tuesday.

India has started by sending 5,000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh via the pipeline, marking the first consignment under a broader annual agreement in which India is committed to supplying 180,000 tonnes of diesel each year. Before the pipeline's inauguration, fuel transfer relied on railway tankers, making the current arrangement faster and more cost-efficient.

"We have an agreement with India, and according to that agreement, India will supply 180,000 tons of diesel to Bangladesh via the pipeline each year. The 5,0...